Birmingham Classic (tennis)

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.

Rothesay Classic
Tournament information
Founded1982
Editions41 (2023)
LocationBirmingham
United Kingdom
VenueEdgbaston Priory Club
Category250
SurfaceGrass – outdoors
Draw32S / 24Q / 16D
Prize moneyUS$259,303 (2023)
Websitelta.org.uk
Current champions (2023)
SinglesLatvia Jeļena Ostapenko
DoublesUkraine Marta Kostyuk
Czech Republic Barbora Krejčíková

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 edit

 
2005 Birmingham Classic

Singles edit

Year Champions Runners-up Score Name
2023   Jeļena Ostapenko   Barbora Krejčíková 7–6(10–8), 6–4 Rothesay Classic
2022   Beatriz Haddad Maia   Zhang Shuai 5–4, ret.
2021   Ons Jabeur   Daria Kasatkina 7–5, 6–4 Viking Classic
2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2019   Ashleigh Barty   Julia Görges 6–3, 7–5 Nature Valley Classic
2018   Petra Kvitová (2)   Magdaléna Rybáriková 4–6, 6–1, 6–2
2017   Petra Kvitová   Ashleigh Barty 4–6, 6–3, 6–2 Aegon Classic
2016   Madison Keys   Barbora Strýcová 6–3, 6–4
2015   Angelique Kerber   Karolína Plíšková 6–7(5–7), 6–3, 7–6(7–4)
2014   Ana Ivanovic   Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová 6–3, 6–2
↑  Premier tournament  ↑
2013   Daniela Hantuchová   Donna Vekić 7–6(7–5), 6–4
2012   Melanie Oudin   Jelena Janković 6–4, 6–2
2011   Sabine Lisicki   Daniela Hantuchová 6–3, 6–2
2010   Li Na   Maria Sharapova 7–5, 6–1
2009   Magdaléna Rybáriková   Li Na 6–0, 7–6(7–2)
2008   Kateryna Bondarenko   Yanina Wickmayer 7–6(9–7), 3–6, 7–6(7–4) DFS Classic
2007   Jelena Janković   Maria Sharapova 4–6, 6–3, 7–5
2006   Vera Zvonareva   Jamea Jackson 7–6(14–12), 7–6(7–5)
2005   Maria Sharapova (2)   Jelena Janković 6–2, 4–6, 6–1
2004   Maria Sharapova   Tatiana Golovin 4–6, 6–2, 6–1
2003   Magdalena Maleeva   Shinobu Asagoe 6–1, 6–4
2002   Jelena Dokic   Anastasia Myskina 6–2, 6–3
2001   Nathalie Tauziat (2)   Miriam Oremans 6–3, 7–5
2000   Lisa Raymond   Tamarine Tanasugarn 6–2, 6–7(7–9), 6–4
1999   Julie Halard-Decugis   Nathalie Tauziat 6–2, 3–6, 6–4
1998 Cancelled after quarterfinals due to rain
1997   Nathalie Tauziat   Yayuk Basuki 2–6, 6–2, 6–2
1996   Meredith McGrath   Nathalie Tauziat 2–6, 6–4, 6–4
1995   Zina Garrison-Jackson (2)   Lori McNeil 6–3, 6–3
1994   Lori McNeil (2)   Zina Garrison-Jackson 6–2, 6–2
1993   Lori McNeil   Zina Garrison-Jackson 6–4, 2–6, 6–3
1992   Brenda Schultz   Jenny Byrne 6–2, 6–2 Dow Classic
1991   Martina Navratilova (2)   Natasha Zvereva 6–4, 7–6(8–6)
1990   Zina Garrison   Helena Suková 6–4, 6–1
1989   Martina Navratilova   Zina Garrison 7–6, 6–3
1988   Claudia Kohde-Kilsch   Pam Shriver 6–2, 6–1 Dow Chemical Classic
1987   Pam Shriver (4)   Larisa Savchenko 4–6, 6–2, 6–2
1986   Pam Shriver (3)   Manuela Maleeva 6–2, 7–6 Edgbaston Cup
1985   Pam Shriver (2)   Betsy Nagelsen 6–1, 6–0
1984   Pam Shriver   Anne White 7–6, 6–3
1983   Billie Jean King (2)   Alycia Moulton 6–0, 7–5
1982   Billie Jean King   Rosalyn Fairbank 6–2, 6–1

Champions by country edit

Country Winner First title Last title
  United States (USA) 16 1982 2016
  France (FRA) 3 1997 2001
  Russia (RUS) 3 2004 2006
  Slovakia (SVK) 2 2009 2013
  Serbia (SER) 2 2007 2014
  Germany (GER) 2 2011 2015
  Czech Republic (CZE) 2 2017 2018
  West Germany (FRG) 1 1988 1988
  Netherlands (NED) 1 1992 1992
  Yugoslavia (YUG) 1 2002 2002
  Bulgaria (BUL) 1 2003 2003
  Ukraine (UKR) 1 2008 2008
  China (CHN) 1 2010 2010
  Australia (AUS) 1 2019 2019
  Tunisia (TUN) 1 2021 2021
  Brazil (BRA) 1 2022 2022
  Latvia (LAT) 1 2023 2023

Doubles edit

Year Champions Runners-up Score Name
2023   Marta Kostyuk
  Barbora Krejčíková
  Storm Hunter
  Alycia Parks
6–2, 7–6(9–7) Rothesay Classic
2022   Lyudmyla Kichenok
  Jeļena Ostapenko
  Elise Mertens
  Zhang Shuai
Walkover
2021   Marie Bouzková
  Lucie Hradecká
  Ons Jabeur
  Ellen Perez
6–4, 2–6, [10–8] Viking Classic
2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2019   Hsieh Su-wei (2)
  Barbora Strýcová (2)
  Anna-Lena Grönefeld
  Demi Schuurs
6–4, 6–7(4–7), [10–8] Nature Valley Classic
2018   Tímea Babos (2)
  Kristina Mladenovic
  Elise Mertens
  Demi Schuurs
4–6, 6–3, [10–8]
2017   Ashleigh Barty (2)
  Casey Dellacqua (2)
  Chan Hao-ching
  Zhang Shuai
6–1, 2–6, [10–8] Aegon Classic
2016   Karolína Plíšková
  Barbora Strýcová
  Vania King
  Alla Kudryavtseva
6–3, 7–6(7–1)
2015   Garbiñe Muguruza
  Carla Suárez Navarro
  Andrea Hlaváčková
  Lucie Hradecká
6–4, 6–4
2014   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
2009   Cara Black (3)
  Liezel Huber (2)
  Raquel Kops-Jones
  Abigail Spears
6–1, 6–4
2008   Cara Black (2)
  Liezel Huber
  Séverine Brémond
  Virginia Ruano Pascual
6–2, 6–1 DFS Classic
2007   Chan Yung-jan
  Chuang Chia-jung
  Sun Tiantian
  Meilen Tu
7–6(7–3), 6–3
2006   Jelena Janković
  Li Na
  Jill Craybas
  Liezel Huber
6–2, 6–4
2005   Daniela Hantuchová
  Ai Sugiyama
  Eleni Daniilidou
  Jennifer Russell
6–2, 6–3
2004   Maria Kirilenko
  Maria Sharapova
  Lisa McShea
  Milagros Sequera
6–2, 6–1
2003   Els Callens (3)
  Meilen Tu
  Alicia Molik
  Martina Navratilova
7–5, 6–4
2002   Shinobu Asagoe
  Els Callens (2)
  Kimberly Po-Messerli
  Nathalie Tauziat
6–4, 6–3
2001   Cara Black
  Elena Likhovtseva
  Kimberly Po-Messerli
  Nathalie Tauziat
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 edit

Country Winner First title Last title
  United States (USA) 20 1983 2014
  Australia (AUS) 8 1991 2017
  Soviet Union (URS) 6 1988 1990
  Czech Republic (CZE) 5 2016 2023
  Russia (RUS) 4 2001 2011
  Zimbabwe (ZIM) 4 2001 2010
  Chinese Taipei (TPE) 4 2007 2019
  Belgium (BEL) 3 1998 2003
  Ukraine (UKR) 2 2022 2023
  Great Britain (GBR) 2 1982 1982
  Latvia (LAT) 2 1997 2022
  France (FRA) 2 1998 2018
  Japan (JPN) 2 2002 2005
  Hungary (HUN) 2 2012 2018
  Spain (SPA) 2 2015 2015
  South Africa (RSA) 1 1986 1986
  Slovakia (SVK) 1 2005 2005
  China (CHN) 1 2006 2006
  Serbia and Montenegro (SCG) 1 2006 2006
  Belarus (BLR) 1 2011 2011

See also edit

External links edit

52°27′30″N 1°54′46″W / 52.45833°N 1.91278°W / 52.45833; -1.91278