Elena Likhovtseva, the French Open semi-finalist, has pulled out of the DFS Classic because of injury - but her absence is unlikely to stop the tournament from becoming a sell-out for the first time.

Likhovtseva, the No 4 seed, withdrew from the event at Edgbaston Priory because of a left thigh problem after being hurt at Roland Garros.

"I am sorry that I will not be able to come to Birmingham because of the injury from Paris last week," she said.

Likhovtseva joins Maggie Maleeva, the 2003 DFS champion, and Chanda Rubin on the withdrawal list for the tournament that begins today.

However, tournament organisers were delighted to announce last night that the final three days have been sold out and that tickets for the remainder of the days are selling out quickly. Ticket sales are already up 53 per cent on this time last year.

Tickets still remain for the first four days of competition, including tomorrow, which will see Maria Sharapova play in England for the first time since she won Wimbledon last year. Sharapova received a first-round bye and will player the winner of the match between Tatiana Perebiynis and Anne Kremer.

There will be two British players in action on centre court today, with Amanda Janes playing Akiko Morigami, and then Elena Baltacha playing Alyona Bondarenko. The British players were given wild cards, as was Anne Keothavong, who will play Laura Granville tomorrow.

Sharapova and Maria Kirilenko, both of Russia, will begin the defence of their doubles title with a match against Marion Bartoli and Tamarine Tanasugarn.

For ticket booking, call the box office: 0870 909 3015, or visit www.LTA.org.uk or http://birmingham.lta.orguk for more information. For group bookings please phone 0800 378 985. n Daniele Bracciali, the unseeded Italian who put out Greg Rusedski in the opening round of the Surbiton Trophy, beat Croatia's Ivo Karlovic 6-7, 7-6, 7-6 to win the title.

The 142nd ranked player in the world produced a gutsy performance to stave off the bombardment of 36 aces from the tallest man on the professional circuit, who dropped only 13 points on serve.

The 6ft 10ins Karlovic looked set to blast his opponent off the court as he swept into a lead, taking the first set 7-0 on tiebreak. In the tie-breaker in the next set, Bracciali levelled the match by snatching it 7-5. Bracciali used his speed and quick reactions to press the tournament's second favourite and he took the final-set tie-break 7-4.

"It was a tough match but I like to play on grass and I knew I had a chance in the lottery of the tiebreaks," said Bracciali.

"It's unbelievable. His first and second serve are just the same.

Solihull twins Richard and William Barker were unable to give British spirits a boost when they were beaten 6-2, 6-4 in the men's double final by Australian Jordan Kerr and Jim Thomas, of the United States.

They had raised expectations on Saturday with a 3-6, 7-6 (7/1), 6-3 win over Australian Stephen Huss and Aisam Ul- Haq Qureshi, the Pakistan No 1.