Sharapova celebrates New Year in Hua Hin

Hua Hin – Thailand‘s version of the Hamptons – has some special guests to its New Year festivities tonight: Venus Williams and Maria Sharapova.

‘I’m delighted to be able to spend my New Year in Hua Hin,’ Sharapova told the Bangkok Post.

But she will probably be going easy on the champagne – Sharapova and Williams are to duel it out on Saturday in an exhibition match.

After a singles match they will face each other at doubles, alongside Thailand tennis stars Paradorn Srichaphan and Danai Udomchoke.

Over their careers Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams have both won three matches in their head-to-head encounters.

The exhibition match is part of the celebrations of Hua Hin‘s 100th anniversary. The town’s municipality was founded in October 1909, although Hua Hin‘s real break came when it was discovered by Thailand‘s royal family in the thirties.

A beachfront villa in Hua Hin – a convenient two hours from Bangkok – has since become de rigeur for hi-so (high society) Thais.

Upscale foreigners are also drawn to its peaceful atmosphere, well-preserved environment and wonderful golfing.