June 08, 2008	Sunday	Jamadi-us-Sani 03, 1429

BIRMINGHAM (England), June 7: Maria Sharapova has decided not to compete on grass before Wimbledon for the first time in her career, opting out of playing her usual warm-up tournament in England.

Sharapova is hoping to avoid any injury concerns and will prepare at her home in Florida rather than compete in the DFS Classic that starts Monday in Birmingham. Sharapova has been a mainstay at the tournament for the last five years, winning it twice –- including in 2004 when she went on to win Wimbledon.

She is also foregoing another grass-court warm-up at Eastbourne the following week, choosing instead to copy the Williams sisters’ tournament-free pre-Wimbledon schedule.

Sharapova has said she will aim for an easier schedule this year, after struggling with shoulder and pectoral muscle problems last year, which kept her sidelined for nearly two months after the U.S. Open in September.

“That was one of the toughest times of my career because I had to deal with things that were completely new to me,” Sharapova said in a recent interview. “You know, being told by doctors that I can’t go out and perform, it’s kind of like a ‘Stop’ sign –- and it was terrible.”

Sharapova considers Wimbledon her favourite tournament, and is looking to bounce back from missing out once again on the French Open title –- the only Grand Slam she has not won. But she said she is willing to make large sacrifices this year to protect her long-term health.—AP