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Sharapova Will Play Wimbledon Qualifying


Maria Sharapova will try to work her way into Wimbledon.

The 2004 Wimbledon champion announced she will play the Wimbledon qualifying tournament at Roehampton.

Watch: 10 Thoughts on Maria Sharapova Wild Card Issue

The former world No. 1 said she has accepted a wild card into Birmingham, which begins June 19th, and will play the Wimbledon qualifying event rather than requesting a main-draw wild card.

"A few months ago, I received a wild card offer from Birmingham, one of my most memorable tournaments as a young player. I am so grateful and excited to be playing this event again!" Sharapova said in a statement posted on her website.

"Because of my improved ranking after the first three tournaments of my return, I will also be playing the qualifying of Wimbledon in Roehampton, and will not be requesting a wild card into the main draw."

The announcement comes after the French Tennis Federation snubbed Sharapova, denying the two-time Roland Garros champion a wild card into the main draw and qualifying.

Wimbledon is scheduled to decide its wild cards on June 20th. There was growing speculation the All England Club might follow Roland Garros' lead and deny the 30-year-old Russian a wild card, according to some published reports in the British media.


 

A nice little romantico video the @wta made from the Colosseum visit yesterday

A post shared by Maria Sharapova (@mariasharapova) on



Sharapova, who sustained a left thigh injury that forced her to retire from her Rome match against Mirjana Lucic-Baroni while leading 2-1 in the final set, said she will start training for grass-court season once she is fully recovered.

"I have already started getting treatment on the injury I sustained a few days ago in Rome, and will begin my preparation as soon I get better," Sharapova said.

In her last Wimbledon appearance Sharapova reached the 2015 semifinals bowing to world No. 1 Serena Williams, 6-2, 6-4. Sharapova reached the Wimbledon final in 2011 falling to eighth-seeded Petra Kvitova, 6-3, 6-4.

Photo credit: CameraSport/Stephen White

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