15-time singles Grand Slam champion Serena Williams and World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka to begin new season at the Hua Hin at the World Tennis Invitation exhibition tournament.

Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka have played great tennis this season with amazing record and both the players have finished the season with high mode. Azarenka has clinches 2012 Australian Open and climb to No. 1 in the WTA Rankings to end the 2012 season for the first time in her WTA career.

31-year-old Serena Williams, who has return back to top form from the second half of the 2012 season with winning two Grand Slam at Wimbledon and US Open championships, where she also bagged singles and doubles gold medals in Olympic Games. Serena has climbed to No. 3 spot in the WTA Rankings and hopes to come back to top spot in new season.

Serena and Azarenka will play their opening tournament at the World Tennis Invitation exhibition tournament, schedule to kick off from 29th December at the Thai resort town of Hua Hin. Azarenka is going to defend the Hua Hin title, where she has overcome against former World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki in last year’s final. Serena has been playing in Thailand for the first time.

Source: LTG

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Get out there: On The Road Asia

That actually sounds like something fun to watch! Thanks for the info. Will check it out.

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"If there is any religion that could cope with modern scientific needs it would be Buddhism." - Albert Einstein, 1936

Watched Venus Williams v Maria Sharapova last time and while Maria was value for money, Venus looked and played like she didn't want to be here.

Anybody know where the venue will be?

you can buy tickets at the cinema in MV, 1500 bt each, Bought a couple 2 weeks ago. Think the venue is called Centennial park

And what is the date on the tickets ? Thanks.

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"If there is any religion that could cope with modern scientific needs it would be Buddhism." - Albert Einstein, 1936

Got my tickets a few days ago. I tried to ask the difference on the prices, looks like they are all 1500baht a ticket and its first come first served (no pun intended) Doors open at 4pm game starts a 5pm so if you want the first few rows show up early. Game is at the Intercontinental Hotel December 29th.

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"If there is any religion that could cope with modern scientific needs it would be Buddhism." - Albert Einstein, 1936

Just to clarify for you, it's organised by Intercontinental but the venue for the tennis last time was at that area to the right, just after the flyover heading south where they built a temporary stand. I think it has the Intercontinental logo on the gates still.

Wozniacki in firing line over Serena skit

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/ ... rena-skit/

Caroline Wozniacki has caused a stir with an impromptu skit at arch rival Serena Williams, with claims her act was racist.

Former world No1 Wozniacki used padding during an exhibition match against Maria Sharapova in Brazil for a light-hearted dig at the American.

"I really love the crowd here, they're open and they have a lot of fun," said Wozniacki, who was watched by her golf superstar boyfriend Rory McIlroy.

Williams, also in Sao Paulo to promote the 2016 Olympic Games, saw the funny side, tweeting: "Do they make Brazilian bikinis for, um, well, me?"

However, not everyone was amused, with some bloggers claiming the Dane's's actions were racist.

An article on feministing.com read: "Given the history and current-day context of racialized standards of beauty, and the hypersexualization of people of color, when a white woman makes fun of a black women's body, especially in a way that hypersexualizes her and draws on the stereotype of black women's big butts, it's racist."

And the Daily Mail reported that another blogger wrote: "It may have been done in 'jest', but I love how people can turn a black woman's body and sexuality into a caricature. However, we should not have the autonomy to celebrate any successes of our own."

But the overwhelming majority of the Mail's reader comments disagreed, with one saying: "So busts and butts are now races? Who knew!" while another: "It's only racist if all black women have the same body shape."

With Williams a winner of 30 grand slams, including 15 singles titles, and Wozniacki still waiting to break her duck, perhaps the most pointed comment was: "Here's a funny suggestion try to copy Serena by actually winning a major!"

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It's not a fair contest. Needs to be two women competing.

Setback for Serena as she goes under the knife
Serena Williams' preparations for the Australian Open could be hampered after the world No. 3 was forced to undergo surgery on a chronic foot problem.

Williams, who was named WTA Player of the Year in 2012, has subsequently pulled out of an exhibition match against world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka in Hua Hin later this month.

"I am being advised by my doctors to take more time to heal following a minor procedure I needed to address my ongoing foot issues," Williams said.

A medical certificate from podiatrist Jeffrey Rockefeller says the 15-time grand slam champion was "treated for a chronic foot disorder which involved minor procedures on both of her great toes".

Li Na has stepped into replace Williams at the World Tennis Invitation event in Hua Hin on December 29.

Williams is expected to return to action at the Brisbane International before heading to Melbourne for the first major of the year, which begins on January 14.

Source: ESPN

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Get out there: On The Road Asia

not quite the same with Li Na

No it won't be the same. That's not what most of us purchased the ticket for...

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"If there is any religion that could cope with modern scientific needs it would be Buddhism." - Albert Einstein, 1936