Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli to play for 1st time since retirement in exhibition event

Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli will play for the first time since her retirement at an exhibition tournament in June.

The 29-year-old Frenchwoman retired suddenly just weeks after winning the Wimbledon title last year. She is set to play in the Liverpool Hope University International Tennis Tournament from June 18-22, which will also feature retired players Greg Rusedski and Virginia Wade, organizers said Wednesday in a statement.

Bartoli struggled with all manner of injuries during her 14-year career, but it was her shoulder that really prevented her from continuing because she could not serve properly.

She won Wimbledon in her 47th start at a Grand Slam tournament — the most ever played by a woman before winning a major championship, and won it without losing a set.