Marion Bartoli to play Wimbledon warm-up tournament in Liverpool

Marion Bartoli has been confirmed to play at a Wimbledon warm-up event in Liverpool.

The Frenchwoman will be the first reigning Wimbledon champion to feature in the Liverpool Hope University International Tennis Tournament, which gets underway on June 20.

The 29-year-old's appearance is likely to fuel speculation that she could return to the sport following her retirement last year.

Bartoli defeated Sabine Lisicki in the 2013 Wimbledon final to claim the first Grand Slam title of her career.