Venus Williams defeated Camila Giorgi 7–6, 4–6, 7–6 in the first round of the WTA 250 Birmingham tournament on grass on 19 June 2023, in an upset victory against the pre-match favourite. Despite Giorgi's odds of 1.2 suggesting she was the clear favourite, Williams—at 5.12—secured a tight three-set contest decided by two tiebreaks. The match remained competitive throughout, with neither player establishing dominance in any single set, and both players claiming one set decisively before the final set went to the tiebreak. Williams' win marked a significant result on grass, a surface traditionally suited to her game, and kept her campaign alive in Birmingham.