Sania, Sharapova lose in Birmingham

Maria Sharapova's Wimbledon build-up suffered a setback on Saturday when she was knocked out of the Birmingham grasscourt event 6-4, 6-4 by China's Li Na.

India's Sania Mirza also lost her semi-final match to 13th seed Magdalena Rybarikova 3-6, 6-0, 6-3. Mirza, easing into competitive tennis after a career-threatening wrist injury had scalped quite a few seeds but it was not her day on Saturday.

Feeling her way back

Sharapova, the champion here in 2004 and 2005, is still feeling her way back on tour after over 10 months out with a shoulder injury and she showed signs of a quick revival by reaching the French Open quarter-finals.

But the unseeded Russian was plagued by errors on Saturday, suffering six breaks of serve in her 90-minute defeat.

"I wasn't playing with the same intensity today as I did in my previous matches," said Sharapova.

"Against an opponent like her, the intensity has to be there the whole match. I just wasn't able to come through today."

Li, the fourth seed, will face Slovakian 13th seed Magdalena Rybarikova, who beat India's Sania Mirza 3-6, 6-0, 6-3, in Sunday's final.

"My return of serve was so good today. I broke her many times so it did not feel like a grass court match," said the Chinese star.