The 2024 Birmingham Classic is one of a slew of grass-court tournaments being held in the United Kingdom, and the entry list has been revealed.
This tournament is part of the WTA 250 series and will run from June 17th to 23rd. It has been held each year since 1982, with the exception of 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic caused the suspension of the tennis calendar.
Some iconic names who have won the Birmingham Classic include Billie Jean King (twice), Pam Shriver (four times), and Maria Sharapova (twice). Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko is the most recent winner. She defeated Barbora Krejcikova in straight sets for the 2023 title.
Ostapenko, who is the sole Top 10 player in the field, and Krejcikova will both return to defend their points. They are the top two seeds at this year's event. Elise Mertens and British No. 1 Katie Boulter are also among the top seeds.
China's Yue Yuan has enjoyed a breakthrough season underpinned by a maiden WTA title in Austin, Texas. Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva, meanwhile, has returned to the world's Top 40 after a series of eye-catching performances on hard and clay courts. Both women will play in this event.
Ajla Tomljanovic will use a special ranking to enter the main draw. Only one Australian has won this tournament in the past, and it is Ashleigh Barty (2019). So, it is big shoes to fill for the injury-prone 31-year-old, who has only played a handful of tournaments in 2024.
Russian teen prodigy Mirra Andreeva turned heads at last year's grass-court swing. She progressed into the second week of a Grand Slam for the first time at Wimbledon. The 17-year-old will try to prove that run was no fluke when she makes her Birmingham debut.
Andreeva will be joined in the draw by fellow countrywomen Anastasia Potapova, Anna Blinkova, and Diana Shanider. Former World No. 1 and 2015 finalist Karolina Pliskova will make a seventh trip to the Edgbaston Priory Club in Birmingham. The initial entry list for the tournament can be seen below.
| Seed | Player | Entry Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jelena Ostapenko | 10 |
| 2 | Barbora Krejcikova | 26 |
| 3 | Elise Mertens | 27 |
| 4 | Katie Boulter | 28 |
| 5 | Sorana Cirstea | 30 |
| 6 | Leylah Fernandez | 33 |
| 7 | Yue Yuan | 36 |
| 8 | Yulia Putintseva | 37 |
| Mirra Andreeva | 38 | |
| Anastasia Potapova | 41 | |
| Marie Bouzkova | 42 | |
| Clara Burel | 43 | |
| Lesia Tsurenko | 44 | |
| Anna Blinkova | 45 | |
| Sara Sorribes Tormo | 46 | |
| Diana Shnaider | 47 | |
| Lucia Bronzetti | 48 | |
| Magda Linette | 50 | |
| Karolina Pliskova | 51 | |
| Elisabetta Cocciaretto | 52 | |
| Ajla Tomljanovic | 33 (SR) |