# Birmingham Classic (tennis)

The Lexus Birmingham Open (previously sponsored by Rothesay Pensions) is a WTA 125 women's tennis tournament on the WTA Tour. It is 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. It was a WTA 250 event from 2021 until 2024.
Sponsorship of the tournament has changed through the years, with the current sponsored name being the "Lexus Birmingham Open". Previously, the event has been called the "Rothesay Classic", "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
### Singles

| Year | Champions | Runners-up | Score | Name |
| ↑ WTA 125 ↑ |||||
| 2024 | Yulia Putintseva | Ajla Tomljanović | 6–1, 7–6$^{(10–8)}$ | Rothesay Classic |
| 2023 | Jeļena Ostapenko | Barbora Krejčíková | 7–6$^{(10–8)}$, 6–4 | Rothesay Classic |
| 2022 | Beatriz Haddad Maia | Zhang Shuai | 5–4, ret. | Rothesay Classic |
| 2021 | Ons Jabeur | Daria Kasatkina | 7–5, 6–4 | Viking Classic |
| ↑ WTA 250 ↑ |||||
| 2020 | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | 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 | Nature Valley Classic |
| 2017 | Petra Kvitová | Ashleigh Barty | 4–6, 6–3, 6–2 | Aegon Classic |
| 2016 | Madison Keys | Barbora Strýcová | 6–3, 6–4 | Aegon Classic |
| 2015 | Angelique Kerber | Karolína Plíšková | 6–7$^{(5–7)}$, 6–3, 7–6$^{(7–4)}$ | Aegon Classic |
| 2014 | Ana Ivanovic | Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová | 6–3, 6–2 | Aegon Classic |
| Aegon Classic ||||
| 2013 | Daniela Hantuchová | Donna Vekić | 7–6$^{(7–5)}$, 6–4 | Aegon Classic |
| 2012 | Melanie Oudin | Jelena Janković | 6–4, 6–2 | Aegon Classic |
| 2011 | Sabine Lisicki | Daniela Hantuchová | 6–3, 6–2 | Aegon Classic |
| 2010 | Li Na | Maria Sharapova | 7–5, 6–1 | Aegon Classic |
| 2009 | Magdaléna Rybáriková | Li Na | 6–0, 7–6$^{(7–2)}$ | Aegon Classic |
| 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 | DFS Classic |
| 2006 | Vera Zvonareva | Jamea Jackson | 7–6$^{(14–12)}$, 7–6$^{(7–5)}$ | DFS Classic |
| 2005 | Maria Sharapova (2) | Jelena Janković | 6–2, 4–6, 6–1 | DFS Classic |
| 2004 | Maria Sharapova | Tatiana Golovin | 4–6, 6–2, 6–1 | DFS Classic |
| 2003 | Magdalena Maleeva | Shinobu Asagoe | 6–1, 6–4 | DFS Classic |
| 2002 | Jelena Dokic | Anastasia Myskina | 6–2, 6–3 | DFS Classic |
| 2001 | Nathalie Tauziat (2) | Miriam Oremans | 6–3, 7–5 | DFS Classic |
| 2000 | Lisa Raymond | Tamarine Tanasugarn | 6–2, 6–7$^{(7–9)}$, 6–4 | DFS Classic |
| 1999 | Julie Halard-Decugis | Nathalie Tauziat | 6–2, 3–6, 6–4 | DFS Classic |
| 1998 | Cancelled after quarterfinals due to rain | Cancelled after quarterfinals due to rain | Cancelled after quarterfinals due to rain | | DFS Classic |
| 1997 | Nathalie Tauziat | Yayuk Basuki | 2–6, 6–2, 6–2 | DFS Classic |
| 1996 | Meredith McGrath | Nathalie Tauziat | 2–6, 6–4, 6–4 | DFS Classic |
| 1995 | Zina Garrison-Jackson (2) | Lori McNeil | 6–3, 6–3 | DFS Classic |
| 1994 | Lori McNeil (2) | Zina Garrison-Jackson | 6–2, 6–2 | DFS Classic |
| 1993 | Lori McNeil | Zina Garrison-Jackson | 6–4, 2–6, 6–3 | DFS Classic |
| 1992 | Brenda Schultz | Jenny Byrne | 6–2, 6–2 | Dow Classic |
| 1991 | Martina Navratilova (2) | Natasha Zvereva | 6–4, 7–6$^{(8–6)}$ | Dow Classic |
| 1990 | Zina Garrison | Helena Suková | 6–4, 6–1 | Dow Classic |
| 1989 | Martina Navratilova | Zina Garrison | 7–6, 6–3 | Dow Classic |
| 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 | Dow Chemical Classic |
| 1986 | Pam Shriver (3) | Manuela Maleeva | 6–2, 7–6 | Edgbaston Cup |
| 1985 | Pam Shriver (2) | Betsy Nagelsen | 6–1, 6–0 | Edgbaston Cup |
| 1984 | Pam Shriver | Anne White | 7–6, 6–3 | Edgbaston Cup |
| 1983 | Billie Jean King (2) | Alycia Moulton | 6–0, 7–5 | Edgbaston Cup |
| 1982 | Billie Jean King | Rosalyn Fairbank | 6–2, 6–1 | Edgbaston Cup |

### 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 |
| Kazakhstan (KAZ) | 1 | 2024 | 2024 |

### Doubles

| 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 | Rothesay Classic |
| 2021 | Marie Bouzková Lucie Hradecká | Ons Jabeur Ellen Perez | 6–4, 2–6, [10–8] | Viking Classic |
| ↑ WTA 250 ↑ |||||
| 2020 | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | 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] | Nature Valley Classic |
| 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$^{(7–1)}$ | Aegon Classic |
| 2015 | Garbiñe Muguruza Carla Suárez Navarro | Andrea Hlaváčková Lucie Hradecká | 6–4, 6–4 | Aegon Classic |
| 2014 | Raquel Kops-Jones Abigail Spears | Ashleigh Barty Casey Dellacqua | 7–6$^{(7–1)}$, 6–1 | Aegon Classic |
| Aegon Classic ||||
| 2013 | Ashleigh Barty Casey Dellacqua | Cara Black Marina Erakovic | 7–5, 6–4 | Aegon Classic |
| 2012 | Tímea Babos Hsieh Su-wei | Liezel Huber Lisa Raymond | 7–5, 6–7$^{(2–7)}$, [10–8] | Aegon Classic |
| 2011 | Olga Govortsova Alla Kudryavtseva | Sara Errani Roberta Vinci | 1–6, 6–1, [10–5] | Aegon Classic |
| 2010 | Cara Black (4) Lisa Raymond | Liezel Huber Bethanie Mattek-Sands | 6–3, 3–2, RET | Aegon Classic |
| 2009 | Cara Black (3) Liezel Huber (2) | Raquel Kops-Jones Abigail Spears | 6–1, 6–4 | Aegon Classic |
| 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 | DFS Classic |
| 2006 | Jelena Janković Li Na | Jill Craybas Liezel Huber | 6–2, 6–4 | DFS Classic |
| 2005 | Daniela Hantuchová Ai Sugiyama | Eleni Daniilidou Jennifer Russell | 6–2, 6–3 | DFS Classic |
| 2004 | Maria Kirilenko Maria Sharapova | Lisa McShea Milagros Sequera | 6–2, 6–1 | DFS Classic |
| 2003 | Els Callens (3) Meilen Tu | Alicia Molik Martina Navratilova | 7–5, 6–4 | DFS Classic |
| 2002 | Shinobu Asagoe Els Callens (2) | Kimberly Po-Messerli Nathalie Tauziat | 6–4, 6–3 | DFS Classic |
| 2001 | Cara Black Elena Likhovtseva | Kimberly Po-Messerli Nathalie Tauziat | 6–1, 6–2 | DFS Classic |
| 2000 | Rachel McQuillan Lisa McShea | Cara Black Irina Selyutina | 6–3, 7–6$^{(7–3)}$ | DFS Classic |
| 1999 | Corina Morariu Larisa Neiland (3) | Alexandra Fusai Inés Gorrochategui | 6–4, 6–4 | DFS Classic |
| 1998 | Els Callens Julie Halard-Decugis | Lisa Raymond Rennae Stubbs | 2–6, 6–4, 6–4 | DFS Classic |
| 1997 | Katrina Adams Larisa Neiland (2) | Nathalie Tauziat Linda Wild | 6–2, 6–3 | DFS Classic |
| 1996 | Elizabeth Smylie (2) Linda Wild | Lori McNeil Nathalie Tauziat | 6–3, 3–6, 6–1 | DFS Classic |
| 1995 | Manon Bollegraf Rennae Stubbs (2) | Nicole Bradtke Kristine Radford | 3–6, 6–4, 6–4 | DFS Classic |
| 1994 | Zina Garrison-Jackson Larisa Neiland | Catherine Barclay Kerry-Anne Guse | 6–4, 6–4 | DFS Classic |
| 1993 | Lori McNeil (2) Martina Navratilova | Pam Shriver Elizabeth Smylie | 6–3, 6–4 | DFS Classic |
| 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 | Dow Classic |
| 1990 | Larisa Savchenko (3) Natasha Zvereva (3) | Gretchen Magers Lise Gregory | 3–6, 6–3, 6–3 | Dow Classic |
| 1989 | Larisa Savchenko (2) Natasha Zvereva (2) | Meredith McGrath Pam Shriver | 7–5, 5–7, 6–0 | Dow Classic |
| 1988 | Larisa Savchenko Natasha Zvereva | Leila Meskhi Svetlana Parkhomenko | 6–4, 6–1 | Dow Classic |
| 1987 | Cancelled due to rain | Cancelled due to rain | 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 | Edgbaston Cup |
| 1984 | Leslie Allen Anne White | Barbara Jordan Elizabeth Sayers | 7–6, 6–3 | Edgbaston Cup |
| 1983 | Billie Jean King Sharon Walsh | Beverly Mould Elizabeth Sayers | 6–2, 6–4 | Edgbaston Cup |
| 1982 | Jo Durie Anne Hobbs | Rosie Casals Wendy Turnbull | 6–3, 6–2 | Edgbaston Cup |

### 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 |
| Chinese Taipei (TPE) | 5 | 2007 | 2024 |
| Russia (RUS) | 4 | 2001 | 2011 |
| Zimbabwe (ZIM) | 4 | 2001 | 2010 |
| Belgium (BEL) | 4 | 1998 | 2024 |
| 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 |