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).
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
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
See also
External links
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