Major changes to Birmingham Classic tennis from 2025
The Birmingham Classic tennis tournament will feature events for both men and women next year – but is being downgraded to its lowest level since its inception in 1982.
Greats of the women's game have won the Maud Watson Trophy at Edgbaston Priory Club – including Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King.
As recently as 2019, it was the second highest level of tournament on the WTA Tour outside of the Grand Slams.
However, next year it will be a Challenger – the fourth level outside the Grand Slams – and be moved to clash with the second week of the French Open, ruling out any player who has a deep run at Roland-Garros.
But men's tennis will be a part of the event for the first time in 2025, effectively replacing the Surbiton Trophy that was won by Andy Murray last year.
Carol Cole, chair of the Edgbaston Priory Club, said: “We are proud to have hosted the WTA event at the club since 1982 and will be delivering another great event this year.
"Next year, we will look forward to staging the first ever men’s and women’s combined professional tournament in Birmingham.
"We know our fans will enjoy seeing the grass court season get off to an exciting start with male and female players competing together at Edgbaston Priory Club from 2025.”
Former Wimbledon champions Ash Barty, Petra Kvitova and Angelique Kerber have all won the Birmingham event in recent years.
As part of major changes to the grass-court calendar, the Lawn Tennis Association have also added a women's 500 event at London's Queen's Club the week before the usual men's tournament – long seen the most important build-up event to Wimbledon.
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