Emma Raducanu commits to Birmingham Classic
WTA
Emma Raducanu will be returning to the United Kingdom this summer to begin her Wimbledon preparations in earnest at the Birmingham Classic.
This WTA 250 event will begin on June 11th at Edgbaston Priory Club and will commemorate its 40th edition this year. Some legendary names have topped the podium, with trailblazer Billie Jean King crowned the inaugural champion in 1982.
Tunisia's Ons Jabeur won it last year after the event was penciled on the WTA calendar following a one-year hiatus. Raducanu is competing in her first full season on the WTA Tour after her historic US Open success last year, which helped to fast-track her rise into the top tier of women's tennis.
Her WTA main draw debut was on the grass of Nottingham last June, where she lost to compatriot Harriet Dart. Back then, she needed a wild card to earn the main draw spot and went on to make waves at Wimbledon, reaching the fourth round on her first appearance.
This time, Raducanu is ranked World No. 12 and will qualify directly based on her ranking for a WTA grass-court tournament at home. She has expressed her delight at playing in Birmingham for the first time.
"I can’t wait to play in Britain again and I’m delighted to be competing at the Rothesay Classic in Birmingham in the 40th year of this terrific showcase for women’s tennis."
"It will be great to get back on to the grass and relive some wonderful memories from last year, where the backing of the British fans was fantastic."
She'll undoubtedly be the biggest star attraction in Birmingham, with tournament director Patrick Hughesman describing it as "fantastic news." Tennis fans in the West Midlands will get to watch some of the WTA's best up close.
"As the current US Open champion, world No. 12 and British No. 1, having Emma coming to the Rothesay Classic is fantastic news. This is a great opportunity for anyone who loves watching world-class sport up close to experience the thrill of these top athletes like Emma competing in Birmingham."
Latest Comments
- Kyrgios will do anything to stay in the news.shirley19-12-2024
- A technical error.
MrMustard18-12-2024 - All that is said , all that is done. Nick has 0 grand slams wins. Everything else is hot 🥵 air.MrMustard18-12-2024
- All that is said , all that isMrMustard18-12-2024
- Kyrgios is a jerk.shirley17-12-2024
- If Jessica Pegula had to undergo such horror for using a bannes substance, so do these two tennis players. Penalty should apply to all players regardless of their excuses. They are professionals and know better!!
Stella112-12-2024 - All players should be treated the same for taking banned substances, if your no 1 in the world or no 300 man or woman you should not be allowed to keep playing,,VPH108-12-2024
- Ah, censored again. No one gets to read my comment. LOLjjluvsports08-12-2024
- Reynolds, could you list all the wars started by the U.S. and U.K., or will you run out of paper? Hypocrisy.jjluvsports06-12-2024
- IDK, it looks like to me that Raducanu should praise herself and her team for 'gaming the system' as in playing the points and ranking game. When you look at her season of wild cards, skipping tournaments (including the Paris Olympics!), retiring from losing matches and avoiding qualifying rounds, it seems like there was some plan to move up the ranks without actually playing a lot of tennis. And it worked! Congrats!RealityCheckers04-12-2024