The Proximus Diamond Games was a professional tennis

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...

 tournament

Tournament

A tournament is a competition involving a relatively large number of competitors, all participating in a sport or game. More specifically, the term may be used in either of two overlapping senses:...

 held in Antwerp, Belgium

Belgium

Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...

. Held since 2002, the tournament takes place in the Sportpaleis, and was played at the beginning of February. In 2009, with the restructuring of the WTA tour

Women's Tennis Association

The Women's Tennis Association , founded in 1973 by Billie Jean King, is the principal organizing body of Women's Professional Tennis. It governs the WTA Tour which is the worldwide professional tennis tour for women. Its counterpart organization in the men's professional game is the Association of...

 and the retirement of both 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 Justine Henin, the tournament both lost its status as part of the WTA tour, and lost a large amount of its target audience. However, an exhibition tournament was held on 2009-12-09 as the Thomas Cook Diamond Games

Thomas Cook Diamond Games

Following the demise of the Proximus Diamond Games as a professional tennis tournament, the organisers reinvented the tournament into an exhibition event in 2009, complete with a new title sponsor Thomas Cook. The event is now known as the Thomas Cook Diamond Games.-2009:The Thomas Cook Diamond...

, which Clijsters ironically played at, with a second edition planned for 2010.

The Diamond Games prides itself on offering a particularly distinctive trophy to any player that can win the singles three times in five years. In 2007, upon completing this feat, Amélie Mauresmo

Amélie Mauresmo

Amélie Simone Mauresmo ; is a French former professional tennis player, and a former World No. 1. Mauresmo won two Grand Slam singles titles at the Australian Open and at Wimbledon....

 won a golden racquet decorated with diamonds. The racquet's value was an estimated 1 million euro

Euro

The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...

s. The others to come close to winning the racquet were Venus Williams

Venus Williams

Venus Ebony Starr Williams is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and is ranked World No. 101 as of 10 October 2011 in singles and World No. 20 in doubles as of 2011. She has been ranked World No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association on three separate...

 in 2006; but she pulled out two days before the event, citing a persistent wrist injury, and Justine Henin who retired on in May 2008.

A new trophy was unveiled in 2008, which featured a golden racquet and a ball, and was decorated with 2008 diamonds. The conditions for winning it were the same. Its value is an estimated 1.5 million euros.

Singles

Year	|Champion	|Runner-up	|Score
↓  Tier II tournament  ↓
2002	Venus Williams Venus Williams Venus Ebony Starr Williams is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and is ranked World No. 101 as of 10 October 2011 in singles and World No. 20 in doubles as of 2011. She has been ranked World No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association on three separate...	Justine Henin	6–3, 5–7, 6–3
2003	Venus Williams Venus Williams Venus Ebony Starr Williams is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and is ranked World No. 101 as of 10 October 2011 in singles and World No. 20 in doubles as of 2011. She has been ranked World No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association on three separate...	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....	6–2, 6–4
2004	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....	Silvia Farina Elia Silvia Farina Elia Silvia Farina Elia is a former female tennis player from Italy. She reached a career high of World No. 11 on 20 May 2002. She won her first ITF title at Caltagirone in 1991 and her first WTA tournament at Strasbourg in 2001...	6–3, 6–0
2005	Amélie Mauresmo Amélie Mauresmo Amélie Simone Mauresmo ; is a French former professional tennis player, and a former World No. 1. Mauresmo won two Grand Slam singles titles at the Australian Open and at Wimbledon....	Venus Williams Venus Williams Venus Ebony Starr Williams is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and is ranked World No. 101 as of 10 October 2011 in singles and World No. 20 in doubles as of 2011. She has been ranked World No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association on three separate...	4–6, 7–5, 6–4
2006	Amélie Mauresmo Amélie Mauresmo Amélie Simone Mauresmo ; is a French former professional tennis player, and a former World No. 1. Mauresmo won two Grand Slam singles titles at the Australian Open and at Wimbledon....	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....	3–6, 6–3, 6–3
2007	Amélie Mauresmo Amélie Mauresmo Amélie Simone Mauresmo ; is a French former professional tennis player, and a former World No. 1. Mauresmo won two Grand Slam singles titles at the Australian Open and at Wimbledon....	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....	6–4, 7–6(4)
2008 2008 Proximus Diamond Games - Singles Amélie Mauresmo was the defending champion, but chose not to participate this year.-Seeds:# Justine Henin '# Anna Chakvetadze # Daniela Hantuchová # Patty Schnyder ...	Justine Henin	Karin Knapp Karin Knapp Karin Knapp is an Italian female tennis player. She was ranked World No. 35 on 25 February 2008.-Career:...	6–3, 6–3
2009- Thomas Cook Diamond Games Following the demise of the Proximus Diamond Games as a professional tennis tournament, the organisers reinvented the tournament into an exhibition event in 2009, complete with a new title sponsor Thomas Cook. The event is now known as the Thomas Cook Diamond Games.-2009:The Thomas Cook Diamond...	Exhibition

Doubles

Year	|Champions	|Runners-up	|Score
↓  Tier II tournament  ↓
2002	Magdalena Maleeva Magdalena Maleeva Magdalena Maleeva is a Bulgarian former tennis player. She played on the WTA tour competing in singles and doubles, from April 1989 to June 2007. Her best position in the WTA Tour was no. 4 between January 29 to February 4, 1996....   Patty Schnyder Patty Schnyder Patty Schnyder is a retired Swiss professional tennis player. She played on the WTA tour from 1993 to 2011 and is a former World No. 7. She defeated several World No...	Nathalie Dechy Nathalie Dechy Nathalie Dechy is a French former professional tour tennis player.Dechy is a three-time doubles Grand Slam champion, winning the 2006 US Open women's doubles title with Vera Zvonareva, the 2007 French Open mixed doubles title with Andy Ram, and the 2007 US Open women's doubles title with Dinara...     Meilen Tu Meilen Tu Meilen Tu is a former American professional female tennis player...	6–3, 6–7(3), 6–3
2003	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....   Ai Sugiyama Ai Sugiyama is a retired Japanese professional tennis player. She reached No. 1 in women's doubles on the WTA Tour. Her career-high singles ranking was No. 8, achieved on February 9, 2004. She turned professional in 1992...	Nathalie Dechy Nathalie Dechy Nathalie Dechy is a French former professional tour tennis player.Dechy is a three-time doubles Grand Slam champion, winning the 2006 US Open women's doubles title with Vera Zvonareva, the 2007 French Open mixed doubles title with Andy Ram, and the 2007 US Open women's doubles title with Dinara...     Émilie Loit Emilie Loit Émilie Loit is a retired French professional female tennis player. She was born in Cherbourg, France.She rose to fame when she played against American superstar Serena Williams before losing 6–3, 6–7, 5–7 in a tough first round 2003 Australian Open match.In her career Loit has won three career...	6–2, 6–0
2004	Cara Black Cara Black Cara Black is a professional female tennis player from Zimbabwe. She has won 7 singles titles and 63 women's doubles titles. She has won all four Grand Slam mixed doubles titles and three of the four Grand Slam titles in women's doubles. She is currently ranked World No. 28 in women's doubles...   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...	Myriam Casanova Myriam Casanova Myriam Casanova is a professional female tennis player from Switzerland.She has been ranked as high as No.45 on the WTA Tour and has won one WTA singles titles in her career.-Singles :...     Eleni Daniilidou Eleni Daniilidou Eleni Daniilidou is a Greek tennis player born in Chania, on the island of Crete.As of 2011, she has won five WTA singles titles and three doubles titles. In 2003, she reached the Australian Open mixed doubles final. Her highest singles ranking has been 14th...	6–2, 6–1
2005	Cara Black Cara Black Cara Black is a professional female tennis player from Zimbabwe. She has won 7 singles titles and 63 women's doubles titles. She has won all four Grand Slam mixed doubles titles and three of the four Grand Slam titles in women's doubles. She is currently ranked World No. 28 in women's doubles...   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...	Anabel Medina Anabel Medina Garrigues Ana Isabel Medina Garrigues , better known as Anabel Medina, is a Spanish female tennis player. She reached a career high WTA Tour ranking of No. 16 on 4 May 2009, and has won 11 singles titles and 14 doubles titles, including the 2008 French Open and 2009 French Open with Virginia Ruano Pascual...     Dinara Safina Dinara Safina Dinara Mikhailovna Safina , born April 27, 1986 in Moscow, is a Russian professional tennis player of Tatar background. Safina's career high ranking is World No. 1....	3–6, 6–4, 6–4
2006	Dinara Safina Dinara Safina Dinara Mikhailovna Safina , born April 27, 1986 in Moscow, is a Russian professional tennis player of Tatar background. Safina's career high ranking is World No. 1....   Katarina Srebotnik Katarina 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...	Stéphanie Foretz Stéphanie Foretz Stéphanie Foretz Gacon is a professional female tennis player from France...     Michaëlla Krajicek Michaëlla Krajicek Michaëlla Krajicek is a Dutch professional tennis player. Her highest WTA ranking was number 30 on 11 February 2008. She currently is the second best ranked player from the Netherlands behind Arantxa Rus.-Personal life:...	6–1, 6–1
2007	Cara Black Cara Black Cara Black is a professional female tennis player from Zimbabwe. She has won 7 singles titles and 63 women's doubles titles. She has won all four Grand Slam mixed doubles titles and three of the four Grand Slam titles in women's doubles. She is currently ranked World No. 28 in women's doubles...   Liezel Huber Liezel Huber Liezel Huber is a professional tennis player who competes for, resides in, and is a naturalized citizen of the United States. Huber has won four Grand Slam titles in women's doubles with partner Cara Black, one with Lisa Raymond, and two mixed doubles titles with Bob Bryan.  On November 12, 2007,...	Elena Likhovtseva Elena Likhovtseva Elena Alexandrovna Likhovtseva is a Russian tennis player, currently inactive. She turned professional in January 1992 at the age of 16.Likhovtseva's career best appearance in a Grand Slam was when she reached the semi finals of the French Open 2005 before she was defeated by Mary Pierce, 6–1 6–1...     Elena Vesnina Elena Vesnina Elena Sergeevna Vesnina is a professional female tennis player from Russia. Her career high rank was #22, achieved on 12 October 2009...	7–5, 4–6, 6–1
2008 2008 Proximus Diamond Games - Doubles -Seeds:# Cara Black /  Liezel Huber # Květa Peschke /  Ai Sugiyama Alyona Bondarenko /  Kateryna Bondarenko Elena Likhovtseva /  Tatiana Perebiynis -Draw:...	Cara Black Cara Black Cara Black is a professional female tennis player from Zimbabwe. She has won 7 singles titles and 63 women's doubles titles. She has won all four Grand Slam mixed doubles titles and three of the four Grand Slam titles in women's doubles. She is currently ranked World No. 28 in women's doubles...   Liezel Huber Liezel Huber Liezel Huber is a professional tennis player who competes for, resides in, and is a naturalized citizen of the United States. Huber has won four Grand Slam titles in women's doubles with partner Cara Black, one with Lisa Raymond, and two mixed doubles titles with Bob Bryan.  On November 12, 2007,...	Květa Peschke Kveta Peschke Květoslava Peschke, also known as Květa Peschkeová is a professional female tennis player from the Czech Republic. She plays mostly on the baseline, with her best shot being the forehand. Her favourite surfaces are hard court and carpet...     Ai Sugiyama Ai Sugiyama is a retired Japanese professional tennis player. She reached No. 1 in women's doubles on the WTA Tour. Her career-high singles ranking was No. 8, achieved on February 9, 2004. She turned professional in 1992...	6–1, 6–3
2009- Thomas Cook Diamond Games Following the demise of the Proximus Diamond Games as a professional tennis tournament, the organisers reinvented the tournament into an exhibition event in 2009, complete with a new title sponsor Thomas Cook. The event is now known as the Thomas Cook Diamond Games.-2009:The Thomas Cook Diamond...	Exhibition

External links

• Official website