Tennis: Sharapova Faces Back to Front Threat in Return to Grass

Given that Ahsha Rolle's claim to fame has nothing to do with her tennis ability but instead a first name that qualifies as a palindrome, Maria Sharapova is unlikely to be quaking at the prospect of facing the American qualifier when she begins her defence of the DFS Classic title here today. Sharapova, the top seed and world No4, will be playing her first match on grass since her defeat to Venus Williams in the semi-finals at Wimbledon last year and is expected to be watched by a familiar face.

Emily Bailes was five years old and fighting cancer when she tossed the coin ahead of Sharapova's 2004 final victory at Wimbledon and the Russian, touched by her bravery, has remained in contact with the youngster ever since, inviting her to Edgbaston this week. With Sharapova absent yesterday along with the rest of the top eight seeds - all afforded byes to the second round - it was an opportunity for the British contingent to not only occupy the spotlight but also press their case for a wild card at Wimbledon.

British No3 Katie O'Brien missed out, losing in three sets to the Japanese teenager Ayumi Morita but Sarah Borwell, a graduate of the United States college system, seized her opportunity, defeating her fellow Briton Melanie South 7-6, 3-6, 6-3. Borwell, who was born in Middlesbrough and studied marketing at the University of Houston, will meet the American Jamea Jackson for a place in the last 16, although her attention is already elsewhere.

"They discuss the wild cards in the next two days so both of us knew it was an important match," said Borwell. "I am about £10,000 in debt so if I can play Wimbledon this year it would put me back in the black. Tennis is a very expensive sport and when you are starting out it all goes on the credit card."