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 File:DFS classic.jpg 2005 Birmingham Classic Singles
Year
Champions
Runners-up
Score
Name
2024 Kazakhstan Yulia Putintseva Australia Ajla Tomljanović 6–1, 7–6(10–8)
Rothesay Classic
2023 Latvia Jeļena Ostapenko Czech Republic Barbora Krejčíková 7–6(10–8) , 6–4
2022 Brazil Beatriz Haddad Maia China Zhang Shuai 5–4, ret.
2021 Tunisia Ons Jabeur Russia Daria Kasatkina 7–5, 6–4
Viking Classic
2020
Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2019 Australia Ashleigh Barty Germany Julia Görges 6–3, 7–5
Nature Valley Classic
2018 Czech Republic Petra Kvitová (2) Slovakia Magdaléna Rybáriková 4–6, 6–1, 6–2
2017 Czech Republic Petra Kvitová Australia Ashleigh Barty 4–6, 6–3, 6–2
Aegon Classic
2016 United States Madison Keys Czech Republic Barbora Strýcová 6–3, 6–4
2015 Germany Angelique Kerber Czech Republic Karolína Plíšková
6–7(5–7) , 6–3, 7–6(7–4)
2014 Serbia Ana Ivanovic Czech Republic Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová 6–3, 6–2
↑ Premier tournament ↑
2013 Slovakia Daniela Hantuchová Croatia Donna Vekić 7–6(7–5) , 6–4
2012 United States Melanie Oudin Serbia Jelena Janković 6–4, 6–2
2011 Germany Sabine Lisicki Slovakia Daniela Hantuchová 6–3, 6–2
2010 China Li Na Russia Maria Sharapova 7–5, 6–1
2009 Slovakia Magdaléna Rybáriková China Li Na 6–0, 7–6(7–2)
2008 Ukraine Kateryna Bondarenko Belgium Yanina Wickmayer 7–6(9–7) , 3–6, 7–6(7–4)
DFS Classic
2007 Serbia Jelena Janković Russia Maria Sharapova 4–6, 6–3, 7–5
2006 Russia Vera Zvonareva United States Jamea Jackson 7–6(14–12) , 7–6(7–5)
2005 Russia Maria Sharapova (2) Serbia and Montenegro Jelena Janković 6–2, 4–6, 6–1
2004 Russia Maria Sharapova France Tatiana Golovin 4–6, 6–2, 6–1
2003 Bulgaria Magdalena Maleeva Japan Shinobu Asagoe 6–1, 6–4
2002 Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Jelena Dokic Russia Anastasia Myskina 6–2, 6–3
2001 France Nathalie Tauziat (2) Netherlands Miriam Oremans 6–3, 7–5
2000 United States Lisa Raymond Thailand Tamarine Tanasugarn 6–2, 6–7(7–9) , 6–4
1999 France Julie Halard-Decugis France Nathalie Tauziat 6–2, 3–6, 6–4
1998 Cancelled after quarterfinals due to rain
1997 France Nathalie Tauziat Indonesia Yayuk Basuki 2–6, 6–2, 6–2
1996 United States Meredith McGrath France Nathalie Tauziat 2–6, 6–4, 6–4
1995 United States Zina Garrison-Jackson (2) United States Lori McNeil 6–3, 6–3
1994 United States Lori McNeil (2) United States Zina Garrison-Jackson 6–2, 6–2
1993 United States Lori McNeil United States Zina Garrison-Jackson 6–4, 2–6, 6–3
1992 Netherlands Brenda Schultz Australia Jenny Byrne 6–2, 6–2
Dow Classic
1991 United States Martina Navratilova (2) Soviet Union Natasha Zvereva 6–4, 7–6(8–6)
1990 United States Zina Garrison Czechoslovakia Helena Suková 6–4, 6–1
1989 United States Martina Navratilova United States Zina Garrison 7–6, 6–3
1988 West Germany Claudia Kohde-Kilsch United States Pam Shriver 6–2, 6–1
Dow Chemical Classic
1987 United States Pam Shriver (4) Soviet Union Larisa Savchenko 4–6, 6–2, 6–2
1986 United States Pam Shriver (3) Bulgaria Manuela Maleeva 6–2, 7–6
Edgbaston Cup
1985 United States Pam Shriver (2) United States Betsy Nagelsen 6–1, 6–0
1984 United States Pam Shriver United States Anne White 7–6, 6–3
1983 United States Billie Jean King (2) United States Alycia Moulton 6–0, 7–5
1982 United States Billie Jean King South Africa Rosalyn Fairbank 6–2, 6–1
Champions by country Doubles
Year
Champions
Runners-up
Score
Name
2024 Chinese Taipei Hsieh Su-wei (3) Belgium Elise Mertens Japan Miyu Kato China Zhang Shuai 6–1, 6–3
2023 Ukraine Marta Kostyuk Czech Republic Barbora Krejčíková Australia Storm Hunter United States Alycia Parks 6–2, 7–6(9–7)
Rothesay Classic
2022 Ukraine Lyudmyla Kichenok Latvia Jeļena Ostapenko Belgium Elise Mertens China Zhang Shuai Walkover
2021 Czech Republic Marie Bouzková Czech Republic Lucie Hradecká Tunisia Ons Jabeur Australia Ellen Perez 6–4, 2–6, [10–8]
Viking Classic
2020
Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2019
Chinese Taipei Hsieh Su-wei (2) Czech Republic Barbora Strýcová (2)
Germany Anna-Lena Grönefeld Netherlands Demi Schuurs
6–4, 6–7(4–7) , [10–8]
Nature Valley Classic
2018
Hungary Tímea Babos (2) France Kristina Mladenovic
Belgium Elise Mertens Netherlands Demi Schuurs
4–6, 6–3, [10–8]
2017
Australia Ashleigh Barty (2) Australia Casey Dellacqua (2)
Chinese Taipei Chan Hao-ching China Zhang Shuai
6–1, 2–6, [10–8]
Aegon Classic
2016
Czech Republic Karolína Plíšková Czech Republic Barbora Strýcová
United States Vania King Russia Alla Kudryavtseva
6–3, 7–6(7–1)
2015
Spain Garbiñe Muguruza Spain Carla Suárez Navarro
Czech Republic Andrea Hlaváčková Czech Republic Lucie Hradecká
6–4, 6–4
2014
United States Raquel Kops-Jones United States Abigail Spears
Australia Ashleigh Barty Australia Casey Dellacqua
7–6(7–1) , 6–1
↑ Premier tournament ↑
2013
Australia Ashleigh Barty Australia Casey Dellacqua
Zimbabwe Cara Black New Zealand Marina Erakovic
7–5, 6–4
2012
Hungary Tímea Babos Chinese Taipei Hsieh Su-wei
United States Liezel Huber United States Lisa Raymond
7–5, 6–7(2–7) , [10–8]
2011
Belarus Olga Govortsova Russia Alla Kudryavtseva
Italy Sara Errani Italy Roberta Vinci
1–6, 6–1, [10–5]
2010
Zimbabwe Cara Black (4) United States Lisa Raymond
United States Liezel Huber United States Bethanie Mattek-Sands
6–3, 3–2, RET
2009
Zimbabwe Cara Black (3) United States Liezel Huber (2)
United States Raquel Kops-Jones United States Abigail Spears
6–1, 6–4
2008
Zimbabwe Cara Black (2) United States Liezel Huber
France Séverine Brémond Spain Virginia Ruano Pascual
6–2, 6–1
DFS Classic
2007
Chinese Taipei Chan Yung-jan Chinese Taipei Chuang Chia-jung
China Sun Tiantian United States Meilen Tu
7–6(7–3) , 6–3
2006
Serbia and Montenegro Jelena Janković China Li Na
United States Jill Craybas South Africa Liezel Huber
6–2, 6–4
2005
Slovakia Daniela Hantuchová Japan Ai Sugiyama
Greece Eleni Daniilidou United States Jennifer Russell
6–2, 6–3
2004
Russia Maria Kirilenko Russia Maria Sharapova
Australia Lisa McShea Venezuela Milagros Sequera
6–2, 6–1
2003
Belgium Els Callens (3) United States Meilen Tu
Australia Alicia Molik United States Martina Navratilova
7–5, 6–4
2002
Japan Shinobu Asagoe Belgium Els Callens (2)
United States Kimberly Po-Messerli France Nathalie Tauziat
6–4, 6–3
2001
Zimbabwe Cara Black Russia Elena Likhovtseva
United States Kimberly Po-Messerli France Nathalie Tauziat
6–1, 6–2
2000
Australia Rachel McQuillan Australia Lisa McShea
Zimbabwe Cara Black Kazakhstan Irina Selyutina
6–3, 7–6(7–3)
1999
United States Corina Morariu Latvia Larisa Neiland (3)
France Alexandra Fusai Argentina Inés Gorrochategui
6–4, 6–4
1998
Belgium Els Callens France Julie Halard-Decugis
United States Lisa Raymond Australia Rennae Stubbs
2–6, 6–4, 6–4
1997
United States Katrina Adams Latvia Larisa Neiland (2)
France Nathalie Tauziat United States Linda Wild
6–2, 6–3
1996
Australia Elizabeth Smylie (2) United States Linda Wild
United States Lori McNeil France Nathalie Tauziat
6–3, 3–6, 6–1
1995
Netherlands Manon Bollegraf Australia Rennae Stubbs (2)
Australia Nicole Bradtke Australia Kristine Radford
3–6, 6–4, 6–4
1994
United States Zina Garrison-Jackson Latvia Larisa Neiland
Australia Catherine Barclay Australia Kerry-Anne Guse
6–4, 6–4
1993
United States Lori McNeil (2) United States Martina Navratilova
United States Pam Shriver Australia Elizabeth Smylie
6–3, 6–4
1992
United States Lori McNeil Australia Rennae Stubbs
United States Sandy Collins South Africa Elna Reinach
5–7, 6–3, 8–6
Dow Classic
1991
Australia Nicole Provis Australia Elizabeth Smylie
United States Sandy Collins South Africa Elna Reinach
6–3, 6–4
1990
Soviet Union Larisa Savchenko (3) Soviet Union Natasha Zvereva (3)
United States Gretchen Magers South Africa Lise Gregory
3–6, 6–3, 6–3
1989
Soviet Union Larisa Savchenko (2) Soviet Union Natasha Zvereva (2)
United States Meredith McGrath United States Pam Shriver
7–5, 5–7, 6–0
1988
Soviet Union Larisa Savchenko Soviet Union Natasha Zvereva
Soviet Union Leila Meskhi Soviet Union Svetlana Parkhomenko
6–4, 6–1
1987
Cancelled due to rain
Dow Chemical Classic
1986
United States Elise Burgin South Africa Rosalyn Fairbank
Australia Elizabeth Smylie Australia Wendy Turnbull
6–2, 6–4
Edgbaston Cup
1985
United States Terry Holladay United States Sharon Walsh-Pete (2)
United States Elise Burgin United States Alycia Moulton
6–4, 5–7, 6–3
1984
United States Leslie Allen United States Anne White
United States Barbara Jordan Australia Elizabeth Sayers
7–6, 6–3
1983
United States Billie Jean King United States Sharon Walsh
South Africa Australia Elizabeth Sayers
6–2, 6–4
1982
United Kingdom Jo Durie United Kingdom Anne Hobbs
United States Rosie Casals Australia 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
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