Thomas Cook Diamond Games
Encyclopedia
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.
taking on Swiss player Patty Schnyder
. Schnyder won in straight sets 4 and 3. Following a music interval by Belgian band Milk Inc, the main event of the evening saw former Diamond Games winners, seven-time grand slam champion Venus Williams
take on the recently crowned US Open champion and hometown comeback queen Kim Clijsters
. It was Clijsters who won the battle and kept the fans happy with a 1 and 5 win.
and French Open champion, Francesca Schiavone
. Wickmayer defeated the Italian in straight sets. Following a musical interlude by Natalia, Kim Clijsters
and Justine Henin took the court for Henin's first match since the two played at Wimbledon. Henin injured her elbow during the opening set of her three-set loss. Henin subsequently missed the rest of the season, including the Best of Belgium match with Clijsters. After sharing the first two sets, Clijsters triumphed in a match tiebreak, 10-5.
and Caroline Wozniacki
which, after a yet to announce musical interlude, is followed by a doubles match between sisters Kim and Elke Clijsters
versus Caroline Wozniacki and Yanina Wickmayer
.
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...
as a professional tennis tournament, the organisers reinvented the tournament into an exhibition event in 2009, complete with a new title sponsor Thomas Cook
Thomas Cook
Thomas Cook of Melbourne, Derbyshire, England founded the travel agency that is now Thomas Cook Group.- Early days :...
. The event is now known as the Thomas Cook Diamond Games.
2009
The Thomas Cook Diamond Games 2009 took place on 9 December. The event featured just two matches, both involving Belgians, and drew an audience of 14,000. The first match was home player Kirsten FlipkensKirsten Flipkens
Kirsten Flipkens is a professional female Belgian tennis player since 2003. Her career high rank for singles is No. 59 . She won 10 ITF Singles titles, and 1 ITF Doubles title....
taking on Swiss player 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...
. Schnyder won in straight sets 4 and 3. Following a music interval by Belgian band Milk Inc, the main event of the evening saw former Diamond Games winners, seven-time grand slam champion 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...
take on the recently crowned US Open champion and hometown comeback queen 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....
. It was Clijsters who won the battle and kept the fans happy with a 1 and 5 win.
2010
In 2010 the event was now called the GDF Suez Diamond Games took place on 9 December 2010. It featured two matches; the first featured Yanina WickmayerYanina Wickmayer
Yanina Wickmayer is a Belgian professional tennis player who is currently ranked world no. 22 and is the second-highest ranked female Belgian tennis player. She reached her career-high ranking of world no. 12 on 19 April 2010...
and French Open champion, Francesca Schiavone
Francesca Schiavone
Francesca Schiavone is an Italian tennis player who turned professional in 1998. She won the 2010 French Open singles title, becoming the first Italian woman to win a Grand Slam event in singles. She was also runner-up at the 2011 French Open. As of 24 October 2011, Schiavone's ranking is World...
. Wickmayer defeated the Italian in straight sets. Following a musical interlude by Natalia, 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 took the court for Henin's first match since the two played at Wimbledon. Henin injured her elbow during the opening set of her three-set loss. Henin subsequently missed the rest of the season, including the Best of Belgium match with Clijsters. After sharing the first two sets, Clijsters triumphed in a match tiebreak, 10-5.
2011
The 2011 event is scheduled to take place on the 8 December 2011. The opening game will feature a match between 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....
and Caroline Wozniacki
Caroline Wozniacki
Caroline Wozniacki is a Danish professional tennis player. She is the current world no. 1 on the WTA Tour. As of 7 November 2011, she has held this position for 56 weeks...
which, after a yet to announce musical interlude, is followed by a doubles match between sisters Kim and Elke Clijsters
Elke Clijsters
Elke Clijsters is a former professional female tennis player from Belgium.Born in Bilzen, Bree, the daughter of Belgian football player Leo Clijsters and sister of former World No. 1 Kim Clijsters . She won the girls' U.S. Open doubles title in 2002 and reached a highest ranking of 389 on 15...
versus Caroline Wozniacki and Yanina Wickmayer
Yanina Wickmayer
Yanina Wickmayer is a Belgian professional tennis player who is currently ranked world no. 22 and is the second-highest ranked female Belgian tennis player. She reached her career-high ranking of world no. 12 on 19 April 2010...
.