Belgian Open (tennis)

The Belgian Open or Belgian International was a tennis tournament founded in 1899 as a combined men's and women's clay court tennis tournament.

The tournament was staged as a joint event until 1971 when the women's event was discontinued, the men's event continued under the brand name Belgian Open Championships, then later was known as the Belgian International Championships until 1981 when it was discontinued. In 1987 the tournament was revived as a women's only event also known as the Benelux Open (for sponsorship reasons) that ran annually to 2001 when it was abolished.

History

Originally called the Belgian International Championships it first established in 1899. The championships were not staged during World War I or World War II. In the pre-open era the event was often reported in Belgian press as the Brussels International, or International of the tennis club in Brussels it was held at. It was an ILTF-sanctioned event from 1897 until 1969. In 1968 the event was re branded as the Belgian Open Championships until 1970. In 1971 the women's event was discontinued, however the men's event carried on under the new brand name Belgian Open through till 1981 when it was discontinued. In 1970 the men's tournament part of the ILTF Independent Circuit for that year, then it joined the ILTF Grand Prix Circuit until 1972, before going back on to the previous circuit until 1976. Between 1977 and 1981 it was graded as Grand Prix event until the men's event ended.

The women's original tournament was part of the 1970 1970 ILTF Women's Tennis Circuit, and the 1971 ILTF Women's Tennis Circuit when that event was ended. In 1987 the tournament was revived as a women's event as part of the Virginia Slims World Championship Series tennis over three different periods during 1987–2002. The competition took place in July during 1987–1989 and 2002, and in May during 1992–1993 and 1999–2001. 2000 and 2001 it was sponsored by Dutch clothing chain Mexx and renamed the Benelux Open. The competition was played on outdoor clay courts.

The tournament was a Tier V event in 1992 and 2001, and a Tier IV event in 1993, 1999, 2000 and 2002. 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.

Finals

Men's singles

(incomplete roll) In 1930 two editions of the men's event were held one in June denoted as (*), the other in September denoted as (**).

Men's doubles

Women's singles

(incomplete roll)

Women's doubles

See also

• Diamond Games – women's tournament (2002–2008, 2015)
• Category:National and multi-national tennis tournaments

External links