Alicia Molik has been forced to pull out of the Birmingham grass-court tournament with a neck injury.

Molik had been due to play Russian Vera Zvonareva in the first round of the Wimbledon lead-up event before withdrawing.

Molik is on the comeback trail from a long-term inner-ear problem and reached the third round of the French Open.

The former world number eight was on Tuesday granted a wildcard for Wimbledon.

Fellow Australian Nicole Pratt lost in three sets to Chinese Shuai Peng 2-6 7-5 6-4 in the first round at Birmingham.

Samantha Stosur was playing Russian qualifier Anastasia Rodionova, in a rain-interrupted session.

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