Given her lack of preparation for the French Open due to injury, Sharapova performed pretty well at Roland Garros before she blew a 5-1 final-set lead and lost to Nicole Vaidisova in the last 16. The 2004 champion arrives here as the title favourite and should go close once more. It took an inspired Venus Williams to stop her last season in the last four, and her game measures up arguably the best of all the top players on grass. A shock loss at Edgbaston will have some punters worried, but she could well regain the title.
