Sharapova excited about her date with Venus in HK

Russian teenage sensation Maria Sharapova won't be overawed by the occasion when she meets American great Venus Williams in her first-round match in next week's Watsons Water Champions Challenge.

The 16-year-old said she would treat the encounter as 'just another match'. The Russian bombshell from Nyagan will be among the crowd favourites in the tournament, which features four women and four men. It starts next Thursday at Victoria Park.

And the strapping six-foot Sharapova is looking forward to playing four-time Grand Slam winner Williams, who is overwhelmingly favoured to win the women's event. But favourite or not, Sharapova just wants to play her game, not worrying too much about her opponent.

''I'll basically play anybody and of course she [Venus] is a great player. But when I go on court I don't want to think about what she has achieved. I just want to think about my game and what I am going to do - not who is on the other side of the court,' Sharapova told the Post from Florida.

'I am going to enjoy it and I think I will have a lot of fun.'

Last year, Sharapova lost to another great, American Monica Seles, in the semi-finals of the competition, but she hopes to get the better of Williams in a match that is shaping up to be a battle between youth and experience.

'I am definitely looking forward to doing well [in Hong Kong]. Even though it might be an exhibition, I always want to win. Last year, it was a great experience for me to play against Monica and hopefully I will get some good matches there and just take it all the way.'