updated 9:30 a.m. ET June 16, 2005

BIRMINGHAM, England - Maria Sharapova struggled on a cold day to defeat Jelena Jankovic 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 Sunday to capture the DFS Classic and win this Wimbledon warmup for the second straight year.

Sharapova, preparing for her Wimbledon title defense, didn’t serve especially well and struggled to finish points as she contended with a lingering thigh strain.

“I will still go to Wimbledon thinking I have played well,” the top-seeded Russian said. “I wasn’t playing my best tennis, but I managed to get through and felt really comfortable as the matches went on.”

“Plus, I got some good practice,” she added. “Practicing things which weren’t going well, which will also be the key. And once I get to Wimbledon, it will bring back good memories and it will go great.”

Sharapova, ranked No. 2, broke Jankovic in her first two service games. In the second set, Jankovic showed that she is improving on the unfamiliar surface by timing the ball better.

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Jankovic, a Serb seeded third and ranked No. 18, broke in the seventh game when Sharapova netted two backhand drives and then held the advantage. She received treatment from a trainer at the end of the set. After an eight-minute delay, Jankovic’s left thigh was bandaged but her game faltered.

Sharapova broke for a 3-1 lead, taking advantage of Jankovic’s moderate second serve and a mistimed forehand.

“It was just a question of whether I could continue and that’s why it was 6-1,” Jankovic said. “If I play my best I can beat her, but today I wasn’t even close to the level I can compete at.”

Sharapova said: “You are not the only one with a thigh problem so I don’t say I’m sorry in that way.”

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