Amelie Mauresmo is set to become the latest major women's player to quit, with the 2006 Wimbledon champion struggling to recapture former glories.

The 28-year-old, who has banked £7million in prize money, will today attempt to defeat American Ashley Harkleroad on Court 11 at Wimbledon despite a leg injury that forced her out of the Eastbourne tournament last week.

Mauresmo tore a thigh muscle which makes her attempt to play her firstround match either a brave call by one of the most popular players on the circuit or a painful farewell that she feels necessary to make having been a former champion here.

Justine Henin quit tennis as the world No1 on the eve of the French Open last month to ensure her place in the annals of the sport would be unaffected by recurring injury and a loss of competitive appetite.

Mauresmo cannot follow suit as she is already on the downward slope but the world No33 appears to lack the ability to mount a viable bid to regain her ranking among the elite.

The leg injury is a real concern and Mauresmo is taking the " we'll see how it goes" approach in a match that looks worryingly similar to the exit Pete Sampras made from the championships. His last contest was a shock defeat to Swiss journeyman George Bastl on Court Two.

For Mauresmo, this first-round tie puts her up against a player who was in the headlines this year after posing for Playboy.

Although Harkleroad has failed to garner wide-spread attention for her on court-exploits, the world No74 is, nonetheless, a potentially tricky opponent.

Mauresmo has won 24 career titles, her other Grand Slam victory coming in Australia in 2006, and has already made it clear that the end of her career is fast approaching.

Having suffered the ignominy of a second-round defeat at the French Open last month to 19-year-old Spanish qualifier Carla Suarez Navarro, she appears desperately short of confidence and motivation.

"I want to keep on playing but at the same time I am wondering if it's the right thing to do," said Mauresmo earlier this year.

"It's been like that for the last few months. At some point that leaves you wondering whether it might be best just to pack it all in. But we are not quite there yet - I still want to keep trying."

Having been a fixture in the top 10 of the women's game, Mauresmo finds herself on the road to possible tennis anonymity and her current ranking highlights how far things have slipped. Since the magical high of two Slams in 2006 Mauresmo has failed to get past the fourth round at any Slam event.

In contrast, Venus Williams, the reigning champion, is full of confidence despite not having competed in any warm up grass court tournaments.

She is aiming for a fifth title at the championships and says she wants another of the famous plates for her home.

"The advantage is that you won it last year and it will never be taken away from you," said the seventh seed, who faces Britain's Naomi Cavaday.

"It will always be yours and you can hug the plate at night if it gets cold.

"I just think Wimbledon is the ultimate place to play your best tennis - the most wonderful tournament to win would definitely be here."