The Belgian Open or Brussels International was a tennis tournament founded in 1899 as a combined men's and women's clay court tennis tournament.[1]
Belgian Open | |
---|---|
Defunct tennis tournament | |
Tour | ILTF World Circuit (1913-1969) men ILTF World Circuit (1913-1972) women ILTF Grand Prix Circuit (men) WTA Tour (women) |
Founded | 1897 |
Abolished | 1981 2001 (women) | (men)
Location | Brussels (1899-1981, 1988-89) Knokke (1987) Waregem (1992) Liège (1993) Antwerp (1999-2001) |
Category | Tier IV (1993, 1999, 2000, 2002) Tier V (1992, 2001) |
Surface | Clay / outdoor |
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.[1] 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
editOriginally called the Belgian International Championships it first established in 1899.[1] The championships were not staged during World War I or World War II.[1] 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. The event was part of the ILTF World Circuit from 1897 until 1969.[1] In 1968 the event was re branded as the Belgian Open Championships until 1970.[1] 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.[1] 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,[1] before going back on to the previous circuit until 1976.[1] Between 1977 and 1981 it was graded as Grand Prix event until the men's event ended.[1]
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
editMen's singles
edit(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
editYear | Champions | Runners-up | Score |
---|---|---|---|
1971 | Not finished | ||
1972 | Juan Gisbert Sr. Manuel Orantes |
Patricio Cornejo Jaime Fillol |
9–7, 6–3 |
1977 | Not finished | ||
1978 | Jean-Louis Haillet Antonio Zugarelli |
Onny Parun Vladimír Zedník |
6–3, 4–6, 7–5 |
1979 | Billy Martin Peter McNamara |
Carlos Kirmayr Balázs Taróczy |
5–7, 7–5, 6–4 |
1980 | Steve Krulevitz Thierry Stevaux |
Eric Fromm Cary Leeds |
6–3, 7–5 |
1981 | Ricardo Cano Andrés Gómez |
Carlos Kirmayr Cássio Motta |
6–2, 6–2 |
Women's singles
edit(incomplete roll)
Year | Champion | Runner-up | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1897 | Mlle van Lennep | Mlle van Aken | 6–1, 6–1 | |
1899 | Marie-Rose Trasenster | Alice Blanpain Comblen | 7–5, 4–6, 8–6 | |
1900 | Alice Blanpain Comblen | Marie-Rose Trasenster | 7–9, 7–5, 9–7 | |
1901 | Marie-Rose Trasenster (2) | Mme Everaerts | 6–2, 6–2 | |
1902 | Mildred Coles | Mabel Squire | divided title | |
1903 | Jeanne Chazal | Digna Mijer van Lennep | 6–3, 6–0 | |
1904[19] | Vera Warden | Ilse Seligman | 6–3, 6–4 | |
1905 | Jeanne Chazal (2) | Marie-Rose Trasenster | 6–0, 7–5 | |
1906 | Marie Dufrénoy | Jeanne Chazal | 6–3, 2–6, 6–4 | |
1907 | Mildred Coles (2) | Marie Dufrénoy | 6–3, 11–9 | |
1908 | Marie Dufrénoy (2) | Mildred Coles | 4–6, 6–4, 7–5 | |
1909 | Mildred Coles (3) | Geneviève de Mot | 6–4, 6–3 | |
1910 | Jeanne Liebrechts | Betty F.B. N. Quicke | 2–6, 10–8, 6–2 | |
1911 | Anne de Borman | Jeanne Liebrechts | 6–4, 6–3 | |
1912 | Anne de Borman (2) | Geneviève de Mot | 6–4, 6–3 | |
1913 | Anne de Borman (3) | Marguerite Leguerrier | 6–3, 6–2 | |
1914 | Jeanne Liebrechts | Anne de Borman | 6–4, 6–4 | |
1915-1919 | Not held (due to World War I) | |||
1920 | Anne de Borman (4) | Marie Storms | 11–13, 6–4, 6–4 | |
1921 | Marie Storms | Mlle de Spirlet | 6–2, 6–0 | |
1930 | Simonne Mathieu | Elsa McAlpin Haylock | 1–6, 6–1, 8–6 | |
1931 | Susan Noel | Marguerite du Monceau | 6–2, 6–2 | |
1932 | Josane Sigart | Lili de Alvarez | 6–0, 2–6, 12–10 | |
1934 | Nelly Adamson | Marguerite du Monceau | 5–7, 6–0, 6–3 | |
1935 | Hilde Krahwinkel Sperling | Simonne Mathieu | 7–5, 6–3 | |
1936 | Sylvia Aubert | Susan Noel | 7–5, 6–4 | |
1937 | Nadine De Bary | Sole | 0–6, 6–4, 6–4[20] | |
1939 | Yvonne Hoyaux | Susan Noel | 6–4, 3–6, 6–4 | |
1940-1946 | Not held (due to World War II) | |||
1947 | Myriam de Borman | Josane de Meulemeester | 12–10, 6–4[5] | |
1948[21] | Pat Canning Todd | Zsuzsa Körmöczy | 6–2, 6–2 | |
1949 | Myriam de Borman | Nel Hermsen | 6–4, 6–1[7] | |
1950 | Nel Hermsen | Myrtil Dubois-Brunarius | 6–3, 6–1[8] | |
1951 | Barbara Scofield Davidson | Christiane Mercelis | 6–3, 6–0 | |
1952 | Angela Mortimer | Patricia Harrison | 6–3, 6–4 | |
1954 | Melita Ramirez | Dorothy Watman Levine | 6–3, 6–4 | |
1955 | Lea Pericoli | Christiane Mercelis | 6–3, 6–3[9] | |
1956 | Unknown | |||
1957 | Heather Brewer-Segal | Christiane Mercelis | 3–6, 6–4, 6–1 | |
1958 | Dottie Head Knode | Christiane Mercelis | 6–1, 6–2 | |
1959 | Christiane Mercelis (2) | Alice Heegewalt | 6–2, 6–1 | |
1960 | Christiane Mercelis (3) | Norma Marsh | 4–6, 6–4, 6–3 | |
1961 | Christiane Mercelis (4) | Carmen Hernandez-Coronado | 6–2, 6–4 | |
1962-1963 | No international event held | |||
1964 | Christiane Mercelis (5) | Jacqueline Kermina | 6–1, 6–4 | |
1965 | Julie Heldman | Gail Sherriff | 9–7, 6–1 | |
1966 | Judy Tegart | Gail Sherriff | 6–4, 6–4 | |
1967 | Gail Sherriff | Ingrid Loeys | 4–6, 7–5, 6–1 | |
1968 | Judy Tegart (2) | Gail Sherriff | 6–3, 7–5 | |
↓ Open Era ↓ | ||||
1969[22] | Ann Haydon Jones | Rosie Casals | 6–4, 6–0 | |
1970 | Julie Heldman (2) | Peaches Bartkowicz | 6–1, 6–2 | |
1971-1986 | Not held | |||
1987 | Kathleen Horvath | Bettina Bunge | 6–1, 7–6 | |
1988 | Arantxa Sánchez Vicario | Raffaella Reggi | 6–0, 7–5 | |
1989 | Radka Zrubáková | Mercedes Paz | 7–6, 6–4 | |
1990-1991 | Not held | |||
1992 | Wiltrud Probst | Meike Babel | 6–2, 6–3 | |
1993 | Radka Bobková | Karin Kschwendt | 6–3, 4–6, 6–2 | |
1994-1998 | Not held | |||
1999 | Justine Henin | Sarah Pitkowski | 6–1, 6–2 | |
2000 | Amanda Coetzer | Cristina Torrens Valero | 4–6, 6–2, 6–3 | |
2001 | Barbara Rittner | Klára Zakopalová | 6–3, 6–2 |
Women's doubles
editYear | Champions | Runners-up | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1987 | Bettina Bunge Manuela Maleeva |
Kathleen Horvath Marcella Mesker |
4–6, 6–4, 6–4 | |
1988 | Mercedes Paz Tine Scheuer-Larsen |
Katerina Maleeva Raffaella Reggi |
7–6, 6–1 | |
1989 | Manon Bollegraf Mercedes Paz |
Carin Bakkum Simone Schilder |
6–1, 6–2 | |
1990-1991 | Not held | |||
1992 | Manon Bollegraf Caroline Vis |
Elena Brioukhovets Petra Langrová |
6–4, 6–3 | |
1993 | Radka Bobková María José Gaidano |
Ann Devries Dominique Monami |
6–4, 2–6, 7–6 | |
1994-98 | Not held | |||
1999 | Laura Golarsa Katarina Srebotnik |
Louise Pleming Meghann Shaughnessy |
6–4, 6–2 | |
2000 | Sabine Appelmans Kim Clijsters |
Jennifer Hopkins Petra Rampre |
6–1, 6–1 | |
2001 | Els Callens Virginia Ruano Pascual |
Kristie Boogert Miriam Oremans |
6–3, 3–6, 6–4 |
See also
edit- Diamond Games – women's tournament (2002–2008, 2015)
- Category:National and multi-national tennis tournaments
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av "Tournaments:Belgian International Championships - Belgian Open". The Tennis Base. Madrid, Spain: Tennismem SL. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
- ^ "Georges Watson : Overview". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
- ^ "Pierre Goldschmidt: Overview". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
- ^ "Tennis". Gazette de Charleroi. 19 May 1937. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Le tournoi du Léopold Club". Le Soir. 27 May 1947. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
- ^ "Les championnats internationaux de Belgique". Le Soir. 7 June 1948. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Le tournois international". La Libre Belgique. 13 June 1949. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Le tournois international du Racing". Le Soir. 12 June 1950. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Nouvelles sportives". Courrier d'Afrique. 6 June 1955. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
- ^ "Le tournois du Racing C. B." Le Soir. 28 May 1956. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
- ^ "Le tournois du Racing C. B." Le Soir. 3 June 1957. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
- ^ "L'Americaine Mrs. Knode et Jacky Brichant enlevent les eprouves de simple". Le Soir. 2 June 1958. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
- ^ "Le tournois international". Le Soir. 29 May 1960. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
- ^ "Le tournois international". Le Soir. 28 May 1961. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
- ^ "Le tournois international du Beerschot". Le Soir. 15 July 1962. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
- ^ "Le tournois international du Beerschot". Le Soir. 14 July 1963. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
- ^ "Alain Bresson: Overview". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
- ^ "Steve Tidball: Overview". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
- ^ "WAS CHAMPION AT BRUSSELS". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California: Wikipedia Library - newspapers.com. 18 Sep 1904. p. 26. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
- ^ "Tennis". La Nation Belge. 17 May 1937. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
- ^ "American Players Win at Brussels". The Missoulian. Missoula, Montana: Wikipedia Library - newspapers.com. 7 Jun 1948. p. 5. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
- ^ "Okker Wins Belgian Open Tennis Meet". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois: Wikipedia Library - newspapers.com. 19 May 1969. p. 71. Retrieved 26 October 2023.