Maria Sharapova and Madison Keys withdraw from Birmingham tournament

While Sharapova has said she needs to rest before Wimbledon, keys is nursing an injury

Maria Sharapova and Madison Keys have withdrawn from next week`s Nature Valley Classic in Birmingham as they look to regain full fitness ahead of Wimbledon.

Sharapova, the 2004 Wimbledon champion, said she needed rest after reaching the French Open quarter-finals.

The 31-year-old Russian served a doping ban in 2016 and was forced to skip the grass-court season last year with a thigh injury.

"I need to take care of my body and make sure I stay healthy," Sharapova said in a statement. "Sometimes that means you have to take tough decisions like this one."

American Keys, 23, will miss the Birmingham event due to an abdominal injury.