World No.1 Simona Halep will face No.9 Johanna Konta in the first match of the World Tennis Thailand Championship 2017 in Hua Hin next week following yesterday's draw.
No.4 Karolina Pliskova will take on No.7 and French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in the other match on the opening day on Dec 23 at True Arena Hua Hin.
The winners will meet in the final and the losers will play in the third-place play-off of the four-player event on Dec 24.
The draw was made by Asian Tennis Federation vice-president Suwat Liptapanlop and actress Sririta Jensen.
"It is the first time that four top-10 players will play in Hua Hin," Suwat said.
"It is good for us to show to the world that Thailand is capable of hosting a world-class tennis tournament. The tournament will also help promote tourism in Thailand in general and Hua Hin in particular, and boost the country's economy. Also it will inspire young Thais to take up the sport."
During their stay in the resort town, the players will take part in several activities, including giving alms to monks, attending a Thai cooking class and conducting a tennis clinic for young players.
They will also join a Christmas party at the Holiday Inn Resort Vana Nava Hua Hin Hotel.
Australia's John Blom will be the chair umpire of the tournament, Suwat said.
In a taped video, Romania's Halep said: "I can't wait to be there. I hope you will enjoy the game with us in the World Tennis Thailand Championship 2017. Kob khun ka."
Britain's Konta said:" This will be a wonderful event with the world's top-10 women's players."
It will be Czech Pliskova and Belarusian Ostapenko's first visit to Thailand.
"Sawasdee ka," Ostapenko said. "Please join me at the World Tennis Thailand Championship."
Tickets are priced at 2,500 baht each and available at Thai Ticket Major outlets and True Arena Hua Hin on the match day.
Meanwhile, American Serena Williams dropped a large hint that she could soon be back on court competing when she posted an Instagram photo of a pair of dazzling gold and white tennis shoes.
Williams, who won her 23rd Grand Slam singles title at last year's Australian Open before taking time out to have her first child, has entered next month's tournament in Melbourne.
"Be excited. Be very excited.." the 36-year-old said in the post, which attracted 135,000 likes in the space of an hour.
Williams gave birth to Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr in September and was married to Alexis Ohanian last month.
Few female players have won Grand Slams after taking a break to start a family, although Kim Clijsters won the 2009 US Open in her third tournament back after having a daughter.
Australians Evonne Goolagong and Margaret Court also managed it. Court's 24 Grand Slam singles titles remains a record although only 11 of them were in the professional era. bangkok post/reuters