Sharapova eclipsed by Venus in Hong Kong

05 January, 2008, 11:13

Maria Sharapova has been beaten by American Venus Williams in straight sets, 6-4 6-3, in the final of the JB Group Classic in Hong Kong.

The eight-woman field also featured Serbia's Ana Ivanovic, Russia's Elena Dementieva and Anna Chakvetadze, China's Peng Shuai, Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova and Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki.

The tournament is not on the WTA tour, but more a kind of exhibition event, all part of the warm-up to the Australian Open which starts on January 14.