Birmingham Classic (tennis) explained

Rothesay Classic
Type:	wta
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, it is the successor event to Midland Counties Championships (1882-1977) a combined event that was also held at the same venue.

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

Year	Champions	Runners-up	Score	Name
			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 Kvitová		4–6, 6–3, 6–2	Aegon Classic
	Madison Keys		6–3, 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

Country	Winner	First title	Last 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

Year	Champions	Runners-up	Score	Name
			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, 6–1	DFS Classic
2007			7–6^(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
2001			6–1, 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, 8–6	Dow 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
1987	Cancelled due to rain			Dow Chemical Classic
1986	Elise Burgin Rosalyn Fairbank	Elizabeth Smylie Wendy Turnbull	6–2, 6–4	Edgbaston 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

Country	Winner	First title	Last 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

• Birmingham Open – men's tournament

External links

• Official website

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