American Venus Williams will battle it out against Russia 's Maria Sharapova in January's Hong Kong invitational tennis tournament, a report here said Wednesday.

Sharapova, ranked number five in the world, and Williams, ranked eight, will be joined by six other players in the annual Champions Challenge due to take place here in the first week of January, the South China Morning Post said.

"Maria will be back again this year, while Venus, who did not play last year, will also make a return," the English-language daily quoted an unnamed source close to the organising committee as saying.

"The presence of Sharapova and Venus, and two others from the world's top 10, will once again ensure this tournament will be of the highest calibre."

Last year's final was won by now-retired Belgian Kim Clijsters , who beat Sharapova in the final.