Russian star Maria Sharapova was off to a good start in her tune-up for next month's Australian Open, winning her exhibition match in Singapore against compatriot Anna Chakvetadze.

The former world No.1 is using the Singapore match and a tournament in Hong Kong later this week to fine-tune her game before launching her Australian Open assault.

Sharapova said her Asian strategy was an attempt to go one better at next month's Australian Open in Melbourne where she lost in the final in 2007 to American Serena Williams.

The former Wimbledon and US Open champion defeated her compatriot in straight sets, winning 6-0 7-6 (12-10) in 1hr 34mins with blistering first serves and clean winners from the baseline.

Officials in Singapore say they will sell nearly every item used by Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova during her one-night stay at a hotel in the country.

Jerry Goh, organizer of Sharapova's Dec. 30 exhibition match against Russian Anna Chakvetadze, said every item used by the former Wimbledon and U.S. Open champion -- except the hotel room toilet seat -- will be sold to benefit charity, the Russian information agency Novosti reported Monday.

Before making her 2008 Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open in the middle of January, Maria will play 2 warm-up events in Asia.  Maria will first play an exhibition in Singapore on December 30th and then travel to Hong Kong to play an exhibition there which begins on January 2nd.

Maria will take on world #6 Anna Chakvetadze of Russia in Singapore at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.  This will be Maria's 7th match against her compatriot and she has won each time.

On Friday 21st December, Maria will make an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres show.  This will be Maria's 1st appearance on the show. 

According to the website they will talk about what it's like to be the highest paid female athlete of 2006, her roller coaster year due to injuries, her holiday plans, and her world famous grunt.

Click here to go to the Ellen website to see what time Maria is on.  Make sure you don't miss it!

Maria played an exhibition last sunday as part of the Andy Roddick Foundation Charity weekend. Maria played a fun and light-hearted mixed doubles match and partnered James Blake and they played Roddick and Brenda Schultz-McCarthy on the Andy Roddick Center Court in Boca Raton, Florida.

At one point, when Roddick crossed over to Maria's side, there was a lot of laughter, after she took a swipe at his butt.