Tennis tournament
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).
2005 Birmingham Classic Year Champions Runners-up Score Name 2024 Yulia Putintseva Ajla Tomljanović 6–1, 7–6(10–8) Rothesay Classic 2023 Jeļena Ostapenko Barbora Krejčíková 7–6(10–8) , 6–4 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 ] Year Champions Runners-up Score Name 2024 Hsieh Su-wei (3) Elise Mertens Miyu Kato Zhang Shuai 6–1, 6–3 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 Elizabeth Sayers 6–2, 6–4 1982 Jo Durie Anne Hobbs Rosie Casals Wendy Turnbull 6–3, 6–2
Champions by country [ edit ]
Previous women's tournament categories (1990–2019)
Tournaments by year Premier Mandatory Premier 5 tournaments Premier tournaments
2009–2020 2011–2020 2013–2020 2014–2020 2015–2020 2016–2020 2019–2020 2020 Defunct
52°27′30″N 1°54′46″W / 52.45833°N 1.91278°W / 52.45833; -1.91278
Yulia Putintseva
Hsieh Su-wei 
Elise Mertens
United States (USA)
France (FRA)
Russia (RUS)
Slovakia (SVK)
Serbia (SER)
Germany (GER)
Czech Republic (CZE)
Netherlands (NED)
Yugoslavia (YUG)
Bulgaria (BUL)
Ukraine (UKR)
China (CHN)
Australia (AUS)
Tunisia (TUN)
Brazil (BRA)
Latvia (LAT)
Soviet Union (URS)
Zimbabwe (ZIM)
Great Britain (GBR)
Japan (JPN)
Hungary (HUN)
Spain (SPA)
South Africa (RSA)
Belarus (BLR)