Sharapova gets easy draw in Hong Kong

Women's tennis' biggest draw card, Maria Sharapova, is expected to have an easy run in the opening round of a Hong Kong Invitational after being paired with Chinese doubles star Yan Zi, organisers announced on Tuesday.

If she wins, she will play the winner of a tough fight between Czech Nicole Vaidizova, ranked 10th, and world No 8 Russian Elena Dementieva in the four day event beginning January 3 next year.

In the other first-round matches, world No 5 Kim Clijsters of Belgium will face China's Zheng Jie, and American Lindsay Davenport will take on fourth-ranked Russian Svetlana Kutzezova.