Maria Sharapova and Madison Keys pull out of Nature Valley Classic Birmingham
Maria Sharapova has withdrawn from the Nature Valley Classic at Edgbaston as she rests ahead of Wimbledon.
The 31-year-old, a two-time winner of the tournament, has suffered an injury-plagued start to the season and feels she needs extra time to recuperate ahead of the year’s third Grand Slam.
She said: “I have good memories of Birmingham so I’m disappointed not to be able to play this year. I need to take care of my body and make sure I stay healthy and sometimes that means you have to take tough decisions like this one.”
The tournament have also been hit by the withdrawal of last year’s US Open finalist Madison Keys with an abdominal injury. She said: “Unfortunately I aggravated an injury I sustained in Rome and need to rest as much as I can right now.”
Former Birmingham runner-up Donna Vekic has been added to the tournament line-up.
