Belgian Open (tennis)
Encyclopedia
The Belgian Open was a WTA Tour tennis
event held over three different periods from 1987-2002. It was competed in July from 1987–1989 and 2001, and May from 1992-1993 to 1999-2001. From 2000-2001 it was sponsored by Dutch clothing chain Mexx
and was temporarily renamed the Benelux
Open. In 2002, it was superseded by the Proximus Diamond Games
. The competition was played on outdoor clay court
s.
The tournament was a Tier V event from 1988–89, then again in 1992 and 2001, The tournament was a Tier IV event in 1993, 1999 and 2000.
Only one Belgian woman won the singles event; the then little-known Justine Henin, aged 16 in 1999. However, Sabine Appelmans
, Kim Clijsters
and Els Callens
all won the doubles event.
1988-89: Brussels
1992: Waregem
1993: Liège
1999-2001: Antwerp
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
event held over three different periods from 1987-2002. It was competed in July from 1987–1989 and 2001, and May from 1992-1993 to 1999-2001. From 2000-2001 it was sponsored by Dutch clothing chain Mexx
Mexx
Mexx is an international fashion company that designs clothes and accessories for men, women and children. Mexx creates fashion that is inspired by the energy, style and trends of life in the big city. The Mexx’ metropolitan casual look is smart, classy and self confident.Every piece of Mexx...
and was temporarily renamed the Benelux
Benelux
The Benelux is an economic union in Western Europe comprising three neighbouring countries, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. These countries are located in northwestern Europe between France and Germany...
Open. In 2002, it was superseded by the Proximus Diamond Games
Proximus Diamond Games
The Proximus Diamond Games was a professional tennis tournament held in Antwerp, Belgium. Held since 2002, the tournament takes place in the Sportpaleis, and was played at the beginning of February...
. The competition was played on outdoor clay court
Clay court
A clay court is one of the four different types of tennis court. Clay courts are made of crushed shale, stone or brick. The red clay is slower than the green, or Har-Tru "American" clay. The French Open uses clay courts, making it unique among the Grand Slam tournaments.Clay courts are more common...
s.
The tournament was a Tier V event from 1988–89, then again in 1992 and 2001, The tournament was a Tier IV event in 1993, 1999 and 2000.
Only one Belgian woman won the singles event; the then little-known Justine Henin, aged 16 in 1999. However, Sabine Appelmans
Sabine Appelmans
Sabine Appelmans is a former tennis player from Belgium, and was Belgium's Fed Cup captain from 2007 until 2011.-Career:...
, Kim Clijsters
Kim Clijsters
Kim Antonie Lode Clijsters is a Belgian professional tennis player. As of 7 November 2011, Clijsters is ranked No. 13 in singles. Clijsters is a former World No. 1 in both singles and doubles....
and Els Callens
Els Callens
Els Callens was a professional female tennis player from Belgium. She became a pro in January 1990.Her biggest achievement came in 2000 during the Summer Olympics in Sydney where she won the bronze medal in doubles, partnering Dominique Van Roost-Monami.She retired on Wednesday 26 October 2005...
all won the doubles event.
Location chronology
1987: KnokkeKnokke
Knokke is one of a group of communities that are all grouped in the administrative community Knokke-Heist, in the province of West Flanders in Flanders, Belgium. Knokke itself has 15,653 inhabitants .Knokke-Heist has 33,818 inhabitants ....
1988-89: Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
1992: Waregem
Waregem
Waregem is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality lies in the valley of the Leie River, between Kortrijk and Ghent. It is part of the arrondissement of Kortrijk and comprises the towns of Beveren, Desselgem, Sint-Eloois-Vijve and Waregem proper. On...
1993: Liège
1999-2001: Antwerp
Singles
| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 |  Kathleen HorvathKathleen Horvath Erica Kathleen "Kathy" Horvath is a former professional tennis player.-Career:Horvath was the youngest player to win the U.S. National 16s in 1979. She also is the only player to ever win all four age groups in the U.S... |
 Bettina BungeBettina Bunge Bettina Bunge is a retired German tennis player. She was born in Adliswil, Switzerland. She was part of a large group of successful German players in the 1980s, which also included Steffi Graf, Claudia Kohde-Kilsch, Sylvia Hanika, and Eva Pfaff.-Career:With German nationality as the daughter of a... |
6-1, 7-6 |
| 1988 |  Arantxa Sánchez |
 Raffaella ReggiRaffaella Reggi Raffaella Reggi is a former professional tennis player from Italy, known for her fiery on-court personality, expressiveness and gesticulations.... |
6-0, 7-5 |
| 1989 |  Radka ZrubákováRadka Zrubáková Radomira "Radka" Zrubáková is a retired professional tennis player from Slovakia.Zrubáková gained professional status in 1986. She won three single and two double titles during her career on the WTA Tour. She was a member of the Czechoslovakia Federation Cup team that won the 1988 Federation Cup... |
 Mercedes PazMercedes Paz Mercedes María Paz is a former professional tennis player from Argentina, who won three singles titles during her career on the WTA Tour. The right-hander reached her highest career ranking on April 29, 1991, when she became the number 28 of the world... |
7-6, 6-4 |
| 1990-91 | not held | ||
| 1992 |  Wiltrud ProbstWiltrud Probst Wiltrud Probst was a female tennis player from Germany. She was ranked World No. 31 on February 4, 1991.-Singles :-Doubles 7 :-External links:... |
Meike Babel Meike Babel Meike Babel is a tennis champion from Langen, Germany. She is assistant women's tennis coach at Vanderbilt University. In her 10 years on the WTA tour she ranked 27 in singles and 45 in doubles. She was born 22 November 1974.-References:*-External links:... |
6-2, 6-3 |
| 1993 |  Radka BobkováRadka Bobková Radka Bobková is a former Czech professional tennis player.She was born in Prague.-Singles 2 :-Doubles 4 :-References:*... |
 Karin KschwendtKarin Kschwendt Karin Kschwendt is a former professional tennis player who represented Austria, Germany and Luxembourg at various points in her career. She reached her career high ranking of world No. 37 on August 12, 1996. In doubles, she went as high as No... |
6-3, 4-6, 6-2 |
| 1994-98 | not held | ||
| 1999 |  Justine Henin |
 Sarah Pitkowski |
6-1, 6-2 |
| 2000 |  Amanda CoetzerAmanda Coetzer Amanda Coetzer is a former professional tennis player from South Africa.Coetzer turned professional in 1988 and retired in 2004... |
Cristina Torrens Valero Cristina Torrens Valero Cristina Torrens Valero is a former professional female tennis player from Spain. She reached her career-high singles ranking World No. 27 on 4 March 2002.... |
4-6, 6-2, 6-3 |
| 2001 | Barbara Rittner Barbara Rittner Barbara Rittner is a former professional tennis player who comes from Germany. Her career high ranking was No. 24 in the world, a ranking she achieved on 1 February 1993. She currently is the captain of the German Fed Cup team.... |
Klára Zakopalová |
6-3, 6-2 |
Doubles
| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Bettina Bunge Bettina Bunge Bettina Bunge is a retired German tennis player. She was born in Adliswil, Switzerland. She was part of a large group of successful German players in the 1980s, which also included Steffi Graf, Claudia Kohde-Kilsch, Sylvia Hanika, and Eva Pfaff.-Career:With German nationality as the daughter of a...  Manuela MaleevaManuela Maleeva Manuela Georgieva Maleeva-Fragniere is a Bulgarian former professional tennis player. She played on the Women's Tennis Association tour between 1982 and 1994... |
| Kathleen Horvath Kathleen Horvath Erica Kathleen "Kathy" Horvath is a former professional tennis player.-Career:Horvath was the youngest player to win the U.S. National 16s in 1979. She also is the only player to ever win all four age groups in the U.S...  Marcella MeskerMarcella Mesker Marcella Mesker is a former professional tennis player from the Netherlands.Mesker was active on the WTA tour from 1979 to 1988 and reached the final of the Australian Open Women's Doubles in 1979. She also reached the semi finals of the U.S. Open Women's Doubles in 1984... |
4-6, 6-4, 6-4 |
| 1988 | Mercedes Paz Mercedes Paz Mercedes María Paz is a former professional tennis player from Argentina, who won three singles titles during her career on the WTA Tour. The right-hander reached her highest career ranking on April 29, 1991, when she became the number 28 of the world...  Tine Scheuer-LarsenTine Scheuer-Larsen Tine Scheuer-Larsen is a retired female tennis player from Denmark, who reached her highest individual ranking on September 29, 1986, when she became the number 34 of the world. She became a professional in 1980 and retired in 1994, having won seven doubles titles on the WTA Tour.-References:*... |
| Katerina Maleeva Katerina Maleeva Katerina Maleeva is a Bulgarian tennis player. She played in the WTA tour, competing in singles, doubles and mixed doubles between 1984 and 1997. Her best position in the WTA rank list was number 6 in 1990.-Biography:... Raffaella ReggiRaffaella Reggi Raffaella Reggi is a former professional tennis player from Italy, known for her fiery on-court personality, expressiveness and gesticulations.... |
7-6, 6-1 |
| 1989 | Manon Bollegraf Manon Bollegraf Manon Maria Bollegraf is a former professional female tennis player from the Netherlands, who finished fourth in women's doubles at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States.-History:... Mercedes PazMercedes Paz Mercedes María Paz is a former professional tennis player from Argentina, who won three singles titles during her career on the WTA Tour. The right-hander reached her highest career ranking on April 29, 1991, when she became the number 28 of the world... |
| Carin Bakkum Simone Schilder |
6-1, 6-2 |
| 1990-91 | not held | ||
| 1992 | Manon Bollegraf Manon Bollegraf Manon Maria Bollegraf is a former professional female tennis player from the Netherlands, who finished fourth in women's doubles at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States.-History:... Caroline VisCaroline Vis Caroline Vis is a retired professional tennis player from the Netherlands. Vis turned pro in 1989. A doubles specialist, Vis won nine titles during her career on the WTA Tour. She reached the mixed doubles final at the 1991 French Open, playing with countryman Paul Haarhuis. Her career-high... |
| Elena BrioukhovetsElena Brioukhovets Elena Brioukhovets is a former professional tennis player. She was born on June 8, 1971 in Odessa, Ukraine.-Singles 2:-Doubles 5 :-References:*-External links:*... Petra LangrováPetra Langrová Petra Píchalová Langrová is a retired professional tennis player from Czechoslovakia and later Czech Republic.-Wins :-Runners-up :-Wins :-Runners-up :-References:... |
6-4, 6-3 |
| 1993 | Radka Bobková Radka Bobková Radka Bobková is a former Czech professional tennis player.She was born in Prague.-Singles 2 :-Doubles 4 :-References:*... María José GaidanoMaria Jose Gaidano Maria Jose Gaidano was an Argentine professional tennis player.She was born in Buenos Aires and played professionally from 1992 to 2000. She represented Argentina in the Fed Cup tournament in 1997.-Doubles 3 :-External links:... |
| Ann Devries Dominique Monami Dominique Monami Dominique Monami is a former Belgian professional female tennis player.In 1995, she married her coach Bart Van Roost, with whom she has a daughter, and played under the name Dominique Van Roost until their divorce in 2003.Her biggest achievement came during the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney where... |
6-4, 2-6, 7-6 |
| 1994-98 | not held | ||
| 1999 | Laura Golarsa Laura Golarsa Laura Golarsa is a former professional tennis player .Golarsa was born in Milan, Italy on 27 November 1967 and played on the WTA tour from 1985 to 2001. She did not win any senior titles but did reach the quarter finals of Wimbledon in 1989...  Katarina SrebotnikKatarina Srebotnik Katarina Srebotnik is a Slovenian professional tennis player. Srebotnik is right-handed, 1.80 m, weighs 65 kg and lives in Dubai. She reached a career-high ranking of No. 20 on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour on August 7, 2006.Srebotnik won 4 singles titles on the WTA-tour and was a steady top 30... |
| Louise Pleming Meghann ShaughnessyMeghann Shaughnessy Meghann Shaughnessy is an American professional tennis player. She achieved a career-high singles ranking of #11 in 2001, and has won six WTA Tour singles titles... |
6-4, 6-2 |
| 2000 | Sabine Appelmans Sabine Appelmans Sabine Appelmans is a former tennis player from Belgium, and was Belgium's Fed Cup captain from 2007 until 2011.-Career:... Kim ClijstersKim Clijsters Kim Antonie Lode Clijsters is a Belgian professional tennis player. As of 7 November 2011, Clijsters is ranked No. 13 in singles. Clijsters is a former World No. 1 in both singles and doubles.... |
| Jennifer Hopkins Jennifer Hopkins Jennifer Dent is an American professional tennis player.She has won six International Tennis Federation women's circuit titles in her career and nearly cracked the top 50. In 2001, she reached her first single final in Hobart... Petra RamprePetra Rampre Petra Rampre is a professional female tennis player from Slovenia. She turned professional in 1996 and reached a career high singles ranking of World No. 162 on 30 October 2000... |
6-1, 6-1 |
| 2001 | Els Callens Els Callens Els Callens was a professional female tennis player from Belgium. She became a pro in January 1990.Her biggest achievement came in 2000 during the Summer Olympics in Sydney where she won the bronze medal in doubles, partnering Dominique Van Roost-Monami.She retired on Wednesday 26 October 2005... Virginia Ruano PascualVirginia Ruano Pascual Virginia Ruano Pascual is a Spanish professional female tennis player. She was born in Madrid, Spain.She has won three career singles titles but she has been more successful in doubles where she has won 43 titles, including 10 Grand Slam titles Between 2002... |
| Kristie Boogert Kristie Boogert Kristie Boogert was a professional female tennis player from the Netherlands. On 5 February 1996 she reached her career-high singles ranking of number 29.... Miriam OremansMiriam Oremans Miriam Oremans is a former professional female tennis player from the Netherlands. On 26 July 1993 she reached her career-high singles ranking of number 25.... |
6-3, 3-6, 6-4 |