Maria’s rest hurts Classic

MARIA Sharapova dealt British tennis an embarrassing blow yesterday when she pulled out of next week’s Birmingham Classic at Edgbaston to rest ahead of Wimbledon.

Following Rafael Nadal’s more expected withdrawal from Queen’s, it was a double disappointment for the Lawn Tennis Association’s pre-Wimbledon events.

Last year the governing body announced it had secured a two-year commitment from the Russian in return for a controversial wildcard.