Birmingham Classic (tennis)

Rothesay Classic
Tournament information
Founded 1982
Editions 41 (2023)
Location Birmingham
United Kingdom
Venue Edgbaston Priory Club
Category 250
Surface Grass – outdoors
Draw 32S / 24Q / 16D
Prize money US$259,303 (2023)
Website lta.org.uk
Current champions (2023)
Singles Jeļena Ostapenko
Doubles Marta Kostyuk
Barbora Krejčíková

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

2005 Birmingham Classic

Singles

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

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

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

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