Nadal, Sharapova prep for Wimbledon at exhibition

While some choose to prep for Wimbledon with grass-court tournaments, former Wimbledon champions Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova opted for a different route. They each played their first grass matches of the season at the Aspall Tennis Classic.

Nadal, who was the 2008 and 2010 champion at the All England Club, was the biggest attraction at the Hurlingham Club in London. He also played in the exhibition event last year, before losing in the fourth round at Wimbledon.

Nadal won his first match over Matthew Ebden in two tight sets. The world No. 1 didn't finish the week unscathed as he lost his next match to Lucas Pouille.

After withdrawing from Birmingham with an injury, Sharapova was playing her first grass-court matches since 2015.

The 2004 Wimbledon champion would lose her debut to Greece's Maria Sakkari. She wouldn't walk away empty handed as she claimed her first on grass since her run to the 2015 Wimbledon semifinals with a victory over countrywoman Natalia Viklyhantseva.

Both Sharapova and Nadal are busy at the All England Club as well, practicing hard for the start of the tournament on Monday.

With the bottom half of the women’s draw and the top half of the men’s draw playing on Monday, Sharapova and Nadal will begin their campaigns on Tuesday.

Nadal will open against Dudi Sela, while Sharapova faces Vitalia Diatchenko.