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Wimbledon: Birmingham grass-court tournament downgraded after WTA event switch to Berlin

The United Kingdom's biggest women-only grass-court event is to be downgraded from next summer, with Wimbledon supporting a new tournament in Berlin.

The Nature Valley Classic in Birmingham, a Premier status competition on the WTA Tour since 2014, is to return to being categorised as an International event.

The change means lower prize money and ranking points for players.

Ashleigh Barty become world number one after winning the tournament in June.

The French Open champion was in a field that included Naomi Osaka, Karolina Pliskova and Venus Williams.

The tournament - held two weeks before Wimbledon, putting it up against the men's event at Queen's Club - is one that makes significant losses.