Sharapova to play in Birmingham Classic

LONDON, June 8 (Reuters) World number two Maria Sharapova will play at next week's Birmingham Classic after accepting a wildcard for the Wimbledon warm-up event, the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) said on today.

The 20-year-old Russian, who was beaten in the French Open semi-finals by Serb Ana Ivanovic yesterday, won the grasscourt event in Birmingham in 2004 -- the same year she won Wimbledon -- and 2005.

The other beaten Roland Garros semi-finalist, Jelena Jankovic of Serbia, will also play in Birmingham.

Reuters BJR GC1929