Hong Kong  - Organisers will hold the line on ticket prices for the expected return of Maria Sharapova to tennis in early January due to the world economic crisis.

The Russian is due to start her 2009 campaign at the "World Challenge" event, with a field which also includes Wimbledon champion Venus Williams and Serbia's world number one Jelena Jankovic.

The January 7-10 tournament with a 12-strong field will hold prices for punters to the same level as in past years in hopes of keeping the Victoria Park stadium full.

Prices are set to remain at the equivalent of 36 to 105 dollars per day.

"It's not cheap getting the players here," longtime Hong Kong organiser Terry Catton told local media. "We had intended to raise the prices by 10 per cent.

"But at that time the economic crisis had not really hit. We know everyone is going through rough times and we've decided to stick to previous prices for the fourth straight year."

Sharapova has not played since Wimbledon and has spent months rehabilitating a right shoulder injury.

Catton admits that the annual event has lost a few sponsors, mainly from the hard-hit banking and financial sector. The event offers 124 patron boxes with prices ranging from the equivalent of 16,750 dollars for a dozen seats to 2,850 for a six-seater.

More than 20 sponsors will be supporting the upcoming edition. The tournament donated more than 25,000 dollars for the development of Hong Kong tennis from the 2008 event. (dpa)