Elena Dementieva will celebrate Yuletide season with family in Malaysia.

Elena Dementieva

Elena Dementieva is all hyped up to celebrate the Yuletide season with family in Kuala Lumpur. The world No 5 will be in town to compete in the Showdown of Champions together with fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko, China’s Zheng Jie and Sania Mirza of India at the Malawati Stadium in Shah Alam over the weekend.

“I’m happy to celebrate Christmas with my family in KL. I’ve never been to Malaysia but I’ve read a lot about the country by surfing the Net and would like to experience the celebration in KL,” said Dementieva, 28.

As for the Showdown of Champions, billed as Asia versus Russia, Dementieva said: “It’s good preparation for 2010. My season next year starts with the Hopman Cup in Perth, Australia where I’ll partner Igor (Andreev).”

She will then travel to Sydney to defend her title at the Medibank International which starts on Jan 10. Among the other tournaments in which she will participate early next year include the Open GDF Suez in Paris (Feb 9) and the Dubai Championship (Feb 15).

This will be her third outing in Dubai after having won in 2008. Her string of events this year include winning titles in Auckland and Sydney in January, followed by another title in Toronto in August.