City’s premier tennis event is downgraded
Annual pre-Wimbledon warm-up loses elite status after 37 years
BIRMINGHAM’S biggest tennis tournament – which attracts the world’s top players – is to be downgraded from next summer.
The Nature Valley Classic, held two weeks before Wimbledon, is the biggest women-only tournament played in the UK.
Previously known as the Aegon Classic, and played at Edgbaston Priory Club, it has been graced by the game’s top names for 37 years.
But losses are said to have run into millions of pounds in recent years, despite it boasting star-studded fields.
It was confirmed this week that the Classic will lose its Premier ranking, dropping to the International tier.
Wimbledon, which has backed the tournament, will instead support a new event in Berlin.
Although the Classic will continue, prize money will be reduced from $1 million (£800,000) to $250,000 (£200,000).
It means that Birmingham will now have to compete with Berlin to try to attract big-name players.
This year, Naomi Osaka, Ashleigh Barty, Karolina Pliskova and Venus Williams all played at Edgbaston Priory but it has continued to be overshadowed by the men’s event at Queen’s Club.
The huge outlay required in prize money has not been matched by similar increases in ticket sales or sponsorship, meaning the tournament has been operating at a significant loss.
The Birmingham tournament was first held in 1982 and winners have included Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova, Maria Sharapova, Angelique Kerber and Petra Kvitova.
By lifting the trophy for the first time this summer, French Open champion Barty surpassed Osaka to become world number one.
The tournament had also become a regular grass court fixture for Johanna Konta, with the British No 1 having played in Birmingham every year since 2013.
Lawn Tennis Association chief executive Scott Lloyd said: “We have worked closely with the All England Lawn Tennis Club on the plans for next year’s grass court season.
“The Nature Valley Classic in Birmingham will continue to be one of the LTA’s major events next season and, like all of our events, will provide opportunities for tennis fans to get closer to the sport.”
Outgoing Wimbledon chairman Philip Brook said: “A strong and successful grass court season is absolutely critical to the future of grass court tennis and thus the future success of the Championships.
“Having worked to expand the grass court season to be a meaningful gap between Roland Garros and Wimbledon, we are pleased to be making these significant further investments into ensuring that quality grass court tournaments can be provided at all levels of the professional game for the best interests of the players and the broader tennis family.”