Sharapova, Williams raise money for tsunami victims
CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova beat four-time major winner Venus Williams 6-4, 6-3 Sunday in an exhibition match two weeks before the start of the Australian Open.
The match began with a 30-second tribute to victims of the tsunami that killed more than 123,000 people, including nearly 5,000 confirmed dead in Thailand. After the match, the players auctioned off their rackets for $2,560 each to raise funds to help victims.
Sharapova used her flat, deep groundstrokes to keep Williams off-balance in the 78-minute exhibition before about 4,000 fans. Williams was hurt by a string of unforced errors, mostly from her forehand, and she double-faulted on the final point.
Williams and Sharapova next head to Hong Kong for another exhibition match.
Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press
