Putintseva revels in “unexpected” victory on grass court in Birmingham

By Abi Curran

Yulia Putintseva enjoyed an unexpected delight after capturing the 2024 Rothesay Classic Birmingham title at Edgbaston.

The Kazakh ace defeated Australian Ajla Tomjlanovic 6-1 7-6 (8) in Sunday’s final after ending Elisabetta Cocciaretto’s grass-court run the previous day.

Putintseva, 29, dominated the first set in their sixth meeting with Tomljanovic, who returned to grass after eight months out with a knee injury.

In the pair’s primary final on Ann Jones Center Court grass, the Australian fought back, forcing Putintseva to come from 5-3 behind and save two set points in the second set.

Kazakhstan no. 2 previously went as far as the quarter-finals in Birmingham five years ago and made no mistake this year to lift the Maud Watson trophy.

Putintseva said: “I don’t know how I feel because I didn’t expect this at all.

“I’ve always been good on clay but now all of a sudden I’m good on grass so I’ll take that, it’s great.

“I’ve been slicing all my life because my game is mixing it up and playing slices, drop shots, volleys, everything.

“It was a great match, I started so well and then Ajla raised her level to the highest level and played quite amazingly and didn’t give me time to think or do anything.

“Even in the end I was a bit luckier but I want to congratulate Ajla, it was great to see you again and after everything you’ve been through with all your injuries it’s a great achievement, you deserve this title as much as i do

“I’ll be back more now, hopefully by the end of my career I’ll be here.”

In the doubles final, new partnership Miyu Kato and Shuai Zhang faced top seeds Su-Wei Hsieh and Elise Mertens.

The formidable second pair raced into a 6-1 lead in the first set and quickly followed in the second to win 6-1, 6-3 under the Midlands sun.

Hsieh and Mertens successfully reunited in January for the first time since 2021 to secure the Australian Open, their first Grand Slam since winning Wimbledon together in the same year.

For the latest action from the British summer grass season, check out LTA website