Birmingham Classic (tennis) explained

Rothesay Classic
Logo Size:150px
Founded:1982
Editions:42 (2024)
City:Birmingham
Country:United Kingdom
Tier:WTA 250
Venue:Edgbaston Priory Club
Surface:Grass – outdoors
Draw:32 / 24 / 16
Prize Money: (2024)
Website:lta.org.uk
Singles: Yulia Putintseva
Doubles: Hsieh Su-wei
Elise Mertens

The Birmingham Classic (currently sponsored by Rothesay Pensions) is a 250-level women's tennis tournament on the WTA Tour held at the Edgbaston Priory Club in Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom. Held at this location since 1982, the tournament is played on outdoor grass courts. It is seen as a warm up tournament for Wimbledon and a sister tournament to the men's Queen's Club Championships. Prior to 2014, the event was part of the WTA's International series. Between 2014 and 2019, it was a premier level tournament. The 2020 competition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sponsorship of the tournament has changed through the years, with the current sponsored name being the "Rothesay Classic". Previously, the event has been called the "Viking Classic", "Nature Valley Classic", "Aegon Birmingham Classic", the "DFS Classic", the "Dow Classic", and the "Edgbaston Cup."

Pam Shriver holds the record for the most singles titles with four (1984–1987 consecutively).

Past finals

Singles

YearChampionsRunners-upScoreName
6–1, 7–6(10–8) Rothesay Classic
7–6(10–8), 6–4
5–4, ret.
7–5, 6–4 Viking Classic
2020 colspan="4" align="center"
6–3, 7–5 Nature Valley Classic
Petra Kvitová (2) 4–6, 6–1, 6–2
Petra Kvitová4–6, 6–3, 6–2 Aegon Classic
Madison Keys6–3, 6–4
6–3, 6–2
↑  Premier tournament  ↑
7–6(7–5), 6–4
6–4, 6–2
6–3, 6–2
7–5, 6–1
6–0, 7–6(7–2)
7–6(9–7), 3–6, 7–6(7–4) DFS Classic
4–6, 6–3, 7–5
7–6(14–12), 7–6(7–5)
Maria Sharapova (2) 6–2, 4–6, 6–1
4–6, 6–2, 6–1
6–1, 6–4
6–2, 6–3
Nathalie Tauziat (2) 6–3, 7–5
6–2, 6–7(7–9), 6–4
6–2, 3–6, 6–4
Cancelled after quarterfinals due to rain
2–6, 6–2, 6–2
2–6, 6–4, 6–4
Zina Garrison-Jackson (2) 6–3, 6–3
Lori McNeil (2) 6–2, 6–2
6–4, 2–6, 6–3
6–2, 6–2 Dow Classic
Martina Navratilova (2) 6–4, 7–6(8–6)
6–4, 6–1
7–6, 6–3
6–2, 6–1 Dow Chemical Classic
Pam Shriver (4) 4–6, 6–2, 6–2
Pam Shriver (3) 6–2, 7–6 Edgbaston Cup
Pam Shriver (2) 6–1, 6–0
7–6, 6–3
Billie Jean King (2) 6–0, 7–5
6–2, 6–1

Champions by country

CountryWinnerFirst titleLast title
16 1982 2016
3 1997 2001
3 2004 2006
2 2009 2013
2 2007 2014
2 2011 2015
2 2017 2018
1 1988 1988
1 1992 1992
(YUG) 1 2002 2002
1 2003 2003
1 2008 2008
1 2010 2010
1 2019 2019
1 2021 2021
1 2022 2022
1 2023 2023
1 2024 2024

Doubles

YearChampionsRunners-upScoreName
6–1, 6–3
6–2, 7–6(9–7) Rothesay Classic
Walkover
6–4, 2–6, [10–8] Viking Classic
2020 colspan="4" align="center"
Hsieh Su-wei (2)
Barbora Strýcová (2)
Anna-Lena Grönefeld
Demi Schuurs
6–4, 6–7(4–7), [10–8]Nature Valley Classic
Elise Mertens
Demi Schuurs
4–6, 6–3, [10–8]
Ashleigh Barty (2)
Casey Dellacqua (2)
Chan Hao-ching
Zhang Shuai
6–1, 2–6, [10–8]Aegon Classic
Vania King
Alla Kudryavtseva
6–3, 7–6(7–1)
Garbiñe Muguruza
Carla Suárez Navarro
Andrea Hlaváčková
Lucie Hradecká
6–4, 6–4
Raquel Kops-Jones
Abigail Spears
Ashleigh Barty
Casey Dellacqua
7–6(7–1), 6–1
↑  Premier tournament  ↑
2013 Ashleigh Barty
Casey Dellacqua
Cara Black
Marina Erakovic
7–5, 6–4
2012 Tímea Babos
Hsieh Su-wei
Liezel Huber
Lisa Raymond
7–5, 6–7(2–7), [10–8]
2011 Olga Govortsova
Alla Kudryavtseva
Sara Errani
Roberta Vinci
1–6, 6–1, [10–5]
2010 Cara Black (4)
Lisa Raymond
Liezel Huber
Bethanie Mattek-Sands
6–3, 3–2, RET
Cara Black (3)
Liezel Huber (2)
Raquel Kops-Jones
Abigail Spears
6–1, 6–4
Cara Black (2)
Liezel Huber
Séverine Brémond
Virginia Ruano Pascual
6–2, 6–1DFS Classic
20077–6(7–3), 6–3
6–2, 6–4
Eleni Daniilidou
Jennifer Russell
6–2, 6–3
Lisa McShea
Milagros Sequera
6–2, 6–1
2003 Alicia Molik
Martina Navratilova
7–5, 6–4
2002 Shinobu Asagoe
Els Callens (2)
6–4, 6–3
20016–1, 6–2
2000 Rachel McQuillan
Lisa McShea
Cara Black
Irina Selyutina
6–3, 7–6(7–3)
1999 Corina Morariu
Larisa Neiland (3)
Alexandra Fusai
Inés Gorrochategui
6–4, 6–4
1998 Els Callens
Julie Halard-Decugis
Lisa Raymond
Rennae Stubbs
2–6, 6–4, 6–4
1997 Katrina Adams
Larisa Neiland (2)
Nathalie Tauziat
Linda Wild
6–2, 6–3
1996 Elizabeth Smylie (2)
Linda Wild
Lori McNeil
Nathalie Tauziat
6–3, 3–6, 6–1
1995 Manon Bollegraf
Rennae Stubbs (2)
Nicole Bradtke
Kristine Radford
3–6, 6–4, 6–4
1994 Zina Garrison-Jackson
Larisa Neiland
Catherine Barclay
Kerry-Anne Guse
6–4, 6–4
1993 Lori McNeil (2)
Martina Navratilova
Pam Shriver
Elizabeth Smylie
6–3, 6–4
1992 Lori McNeil
Rennae Stubbs
Sandy Collins
Elna Reinach
5–7, 6–3, 8–6Dow Classic
1991 Nicole Provis
Elizabeth Smylie
Sandy Collins
Elna Reinach
6–3, 6–4
1990 Larisa Savchenko (3)
Natasha Zvereva (3)
Gretchen Magers
Lise Gregory
3–6, 6–3, 6–3
1989 Larisa Savchenko (2)
Natasha Zvereva (2)
Meredith McGrath
Pam Shriver
7–5, 5–7, 6–0
1988 Larisa Savchenko
Natasha Zvereva
Leila Meskhi
Svetlana Parkhomenko
6–4, 6–1
1987Cancelled due to rainDow Chemical Classic
1986 Elise Burgin
Rosalyn Fairbank
Elizabeth Smylie
Wendy Turnbull
6–2, 6–4Edgbaston Cup
1985 Terry Holladay
Sharon Walsh-Pete (2)
Elise Burgin
Alycia Moulton
6–4, 5–7, 6–3
1984 Leslie Allen
Anne White
Barbara Jordan
Elizabeth Sayers
7–6, 6–3
1983 Billie Jean King
Sharon Walsh
Beverly Mould
Elizabeth Sayers
6–2, 6–4
1982 Jo Durie
Anne Hobbs
Rosie Casals
Wendy Turnbull
6–3, 6–2

Champions by country

CountryWinnerFirst titleLast title
20 1983 2014
8 1991 2017
6 1988 1990
5 2016 2023
5 2007 2024
4 2001 2011
4 2001 2010
4 1998 2024
2 2022 2023
2 1982 1982
2 1997 2022
2 1998 2018
2 2002 2005
2 2012 2018
2 2015 2015
1 1986 1986
1 2005 2005
1 2006 2006
1 2006 2006
1 2011 2011

See also

External links

52.4583°N -1.9128°W