 Sharapova in action at Birmingham in 2006 |
World number two Maria Sharapova has accepted a wildcard entry into the grasscourt DFS Classic, which starts in Birmingham on Monday. The 20-year-old Russian, who lost to Ana Ivanovic in the French Open semi-finals, won the Wimbledon warm-up event in 2004 and 2005.
Jelena Jankovic, the other beaten semi-finalist in Paris, will also take part in the Birmingham tournament.
The tournament takes place at the Edgbaston Priory Club from 9-17 June.
Three of Britain's top players have also been awarded wildcards.
British number one Anne Keothavong, teenager Naomi Cavaday and Elena Baltacha, who missed the whole of the 2006 grasscourt season as she was recovering from back surgery, will all be appearing.
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