Wikipedia

Belgian Open (tennis)

For the men's indoor tournament held in Brussels from 1981 to 1992, see Donnay Indoor Championships.

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
TourILTF World Circuit (1913-1969) men
ILTF World Circuit (1913-1972) women
ILTF Grand Prix Circuit (men)
WTA Tour (women)
Founded1897; 127 years ago (1897)
Abolished1981; 43 years ago (1981) (men)
2001; 23 years ago (2001) (women)
LocationBrussels
(1899-1981, 1988-89)
Knokke
(1987)
Waregem
(1992)
Liège
(1993)
Antwerp
(1999-2001)
CategoryTier IV (1993, 1999, 2000, 2002)
Tier V (1992, 2001)
SurfaceClay / 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

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Originally 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

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Men's singles

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

Year Champions Runners-up Score
1899   Herbert Roper Barrett   Paul de Borman 6–2, 6–0, 6–2[1]
1900   Herbert Roper Barrett (2)   Paul de Borman 6–3, 6–3, 6–2[1]
1901   Herbert Roper Barrett (3)   Willie Lemaire de Warzeé 6–1, 6–2, 6–4[1]
1902   Herbert Roper Barrett (4)   Paul de Borman 6–3, 7–5, 7–5[1]
1903   Herbert Roper Barrett (5)   Paul de Borman 6–4, 6–3, 3–6, 6–3[1]
1905   Paul de Borman   Herbert Roper Barrett 4–6, 6–1, 8–6, 6–0[1]
1906   Herbert Roper Barrett (6)   Willie Lemaire de Warzeé 6–2, 6–2, 6–4[1]
1910   Anthony Wilding   Réginald Storms 6–0, 6–1, 4–3, rtd.[1]
1912   Georges Watson[2]   Willie Lemaire de Warzeé 6–2, 6–1, 6–1[1]
1913   Paul de Borman (2)   Georges Watson 6–3, 3–6, 1–6, 6–4, 6–3[1]
1914   Jean Washer   Willie Lemaire de Warzeé 6–4, 6–3, 6–1[1]
1915-1919 Not held (due to World War I)
1920   Jean Washer (2)   Gerard Scheurleer 6–0, 6–2, 6–3[1]
1921   Arthur Diemer Kool   Amos Niven Wilder 6–1, 8–6, 6–2[1]
1925   Jean Washer (3)   André Laloux 6–2, 6–0, 6–3[1]
1930 *   Jean Borotra   Henri Cochet 4–6, 6–3, 6–4, 4–6, 8–6[1]
1930 **   Franz Matejka   Jean Lesueur 6–1, 6–2, 6–3[1]
1932   André Martin-Legeay   Pierre Goldschmidt[3] 6–1, 7–5[1]
1934   André Lacroix   Pierre Geelhand de Merxem 6–1, 6–3, 6–2[1]
1935   Fred Perry   Hermann Artens 6–3, 9–7, 6–3[1]
1936   André Lacroix (2)   Jack Van den Eynde 1–6, 6–2, 6–4[1]
1937   Patrick Tiberghien   Hans van Swol 6–3, 6–4[4]
1940-1946 Not held (due to World War II)
1947   Jacques Peten   Andre Najar 6–2, 6–4, 6–2[5]
1948   Frank Parker   Budge Patty 6–1, 1–6, 3–6, 6–1, 6–2[6]
1949   Bernard Destremau   Franjo Punčec 1–1, rtd.[7]
1950   Pierre Geelhand de Merxem   Jacques Sanglier 6–3, 5–7, 6–1[8]
1951   Eric Sturgess   Jaroslav Drobný 6–0, 6–1, 6–0[1]
1952   Ken McGregor   Tony Trabert 6–4, 6–2, 5–7, 2–6, 6–4[1]
1954   Lorne Main   Irvin Dorfman 6–2, 1–6, 6–3, 6–4[1]
1955   Mervyn Rose   Philippe Washer 7–5, 6–1[9]
1956   Jacques Brichant   Ulf Schmidt 6–3, 6–1[10]
1957   Jacques Brichant (2)   Ladislav Legenstein 6–4, 6–2, 5–7, 2–6, 6–4[11]
1958   Jacques Brichant (3)   Ulf Schmidt 6–2, 8–6[12]
1959   Jacques Brichant (4)   Antonio Palafox 8–6, 6–2, 6–1[1]
1960   Billy Knight   Jacques Brichant 9–7, 6–4[13]
1961   Jacques Brichant (5)   Mario Llamas 6–3, 6–8, 6–4[14]
1962   Jacques Brichant (6)   Ramanathan Krishnan 6–2, 6–4[15]
1963   Ramanathan Krishnan   Nicola Pietrangeli 6–1, 1–6, 6–2[16]
1964   Michel Leclercq   Alain Bresson[17] 6–3, 6–2, 6–4[1]
1965   Ken Fletcher   José Edison Mandarino 11–9, 4–6, 6–2[1]
1966   Tom Okker   Bob Carmichael 8–10, 6–3, 6–3[1]
1967   Tom Okker (2)   Jim Moore 6–2, 6–2, 6–0[1]
1968   Štěpán Koudelka   Steve Tidball[18] 1–6, 6–1, 6–2[1]
↓  Open Era  ↓
1969   Tom Okker (3)   Željko Franulović 6–4, 1–6, 6–2, 6–2[1]
1970   Tom Okker (4)   Ilie Năstase 6–3, 6–4, 0–6, 4–6, 6–4[1]
1971   Cliff Drysdale   Ilie Năstase 6–0, 6–1, 7–5[1]
1972   Manuel Orantes   Andrés Gimeno 6–4, 6–1, 2–6, 7–5[1]
1973-1976 Not held
1977   Harold Solomon   Karl Meiler 7–5, 3–6, 2–6, 6–3, 6–4[1]
1978   Werner Zirngibl   Ricardo Cano 1–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–3[1]
1979   Balázs Taróczy   Ivan Lendl 6–1, 1–6, 6–3[1]
1980   Peter McNamara   Balázs Taróczy 7–6, 6–3, 6–0
1981   Marko Ostoja   Ricardo Ycaza 4–6, 6–4, 7–5[1]

Men's doubles

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Year 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

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(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

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Year 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

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References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "Georges Watson : Overview". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Pierre Goldschmidt: Overview". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  4. ^ "Tennis". Gazette de Charleroi. 19 May 1937. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Le tournoi du Léopold Club". Le Soir. 27 May 1947. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  6. ^ "Les championnats internationaux de Belgique". Le Soir. 7 June 1948. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Le tournois international". La Libre Belgique. 13 June 1949. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Le tournois international du Racing". Le Soir. 12 June 1950. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Nouvelles sportives". Courrier d'Afrique. 6 June 1955. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  10. ^ "Le tournois du Racing C. B." Le Soir. 28 May 1956. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  11. ^ "Le tournois du Racing C. B." Le Soir. 3 June 1957. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  12. ^ "L'Americaine Mrs. Knode et Jacky Brichant enlevent les eprouves de simple". Le Soir. 2 June 1958. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  13. ^ "Le tournois international". Le Soir. 29 May 1960. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  14. ^ "Le tournois international". Le Soir. 28 May 1961. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  15. ^ "Le tournois international du Beerschot". Le Soir. 15 July 1962. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  16. ^ "Le tournois international du Beerschot". Le Soir. 14 July 1963. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  17. ^ "Alain Bresson: Overview". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  18. ^ "Steve Tidball: Overview". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  19. ^ "WAS CHAMPION AT BRUSSELS". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California: Wikipedia Library - newspapers.com. 18 Sep 1904. p. 26. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  20. ^ "Tennis". La Nation Belge. 17 May 1937. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  21. ^ "American Players Win at Brussels". The Missoulian. Missoula, Montana: Wikipedia Library - newspapers.com. 7 Jun 1948. p. 5. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  22. ^ "Okker Wins Belgian Open Tennis Meet". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois: Wikipedia Library - newspapers.com. 19 May 1969. p. 71. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
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