Belgian Open (tennis)

(Redirected from Belgian Open Championships)

The Belgian Open was a women's 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 to 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

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] 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

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 (**).

YearChampionsRunners-upScore
1899 Herbert Roper Barrett Paul de Borman6–2, 6–0, 6–2[1]
1900 Herbert Roper Barrett (2) Paul de Borman6–3, 6–3, 6–2.[1]
1901 Herbert Roper Barrett (3) Willie Lemaire de Warzeé6–1, 6–2, 6–4.[1]
1902 Herbert Roper Barrett (4) Paul de Borman6–3, 7–5, 7–5.[1]
1903 Herbert Roper Barrett (5) Paul de Borman6–4, 6–3, 3–6, 6–3.[1]
1905 Paul de Borman Herbert Roper Barrett4–6, 6–1, 8–6, 6–0.[1]
1906 Herbert Roper Barrett (6) Willie Lemaire de Warzeé6–2, 6–2, 6–4.[1]
1910 Anthony Wilding Réginald Storms6–0, 6–1, 4–3, retd.[1]
1912 Georges Watson[2] Willie Lemaire de Warzeé6–2, 6–1, 6–1.[1]
1913 Paul de Borman (2) Georges Watson6–3, 3–6, 1–6, 6–4, 6–3.[1]
1914 Jean Washer Willie Lemaire de Warzeé6–4, 6–3, 6–1.[1]
1915/1919Not held (due to World War I
1920 Jean Washer (2) Gerard Scheurleer6–0, 6–2, 6–3.[1]
1921 Arthur Diemer Kool Amos Niven Wilder6–1, 8–6, 6–2.[1]
1925 Jean Washer (3) André Laloux6–2, 6–0, 6–3.[1]
1930 * Jean Borotra Henri Cochet4–6, 6–3, 6–4, 4–6, 8–6.[1]
1930 ** Franz Matejka Jean Lesueur6–1, 6–2, 6–3.[1]
1932 André Martin-Legeay Pierre Goldschmidt[3]6–1, 7–5.[1]
1934 André Lacroix Pierre Geelhand de Merxem6–1, 6–3, 6–2.[1]
1935 Fred Perry Hermann Artens6–3, 9–7, 6–3.[1]
1936 André Lacroix (2) Jack Van den Eynde1–6, 6–2, 6–4.[1]
1937 Patrick Tiberghien Hans van Swol6–3, 6–4, 7–5.[1]
1941 André Lacroix (3) Pierre Geelhand de Merxem7–5, 6–1.[1]
1942/1946Not held (due to World War II
1948 Frank Parker Budge Patty6–1, 1–6, 3–6, 6–1, 6–2.[1]
1950 Pierre Geelhand de Merxem Jacques Sanglier6–3, 5–7, 6–2.[1]
1951 Eric Sturgess Jaroslav Drobný6–0, 6–1, 6–0.[1]
1952 Ken McGregor Tony Trabert6–4, 6–2, 5–7, 2–6, 6–4.[1]
1954 Lorne Main Irvin Dorfman6–2, 1–6, 6–3, 6–4.[1]
1955 Mervyn Rose Philippe Washer7–5, 6–1.[1]
1956 Jacques Brichant Ulf Schmidt6–3, 6–1.[1]
1959 Jacques Brichant (2) Antonio Palafox8–6, 6–2, 6–1.[1]
1963 Ramanathan Krishnan Nicola Pietrangeli6–1, 1–6, 6–3.[1]
1964 Michel Leclercq Alain Bresson[4]6–3, 6–2, 6–4.[1]
1965 Ken Fletcher José Edison Mandarino11–9, 4–6, 6–2.[1]
1966 Tom Okker Bob Carmichael8–10, 6–3, 6–3.[1]
1967 Tom Okker (2) Jim Moore6–2, 6–2, 6–0.[1]
1968 Štěpán Koudelka Steve Tidball[5]1–6, 6–1, 6–2.[1]
↓  Open Era  ↓
1969 Tom Okker (3) Željko Franulović6–4, 1–6, 6–2, 6–2.[1]
1970 Tom Okker (4) Ilie Năstase6–3, 6–4, 0–6, 4–6, 6–4.[1]
1971 Cliff Drysdale Ilie Năstase6–0, 6–1, 7–5.[1]
1972 Manuel Orantes Andrés Gimeno6–4, 6–1, 2–6, 7–5.[1]
1973/1976Not held
1977 Harold Solomon Karl Meiler7–5, 3–6, 2–6, 6–3, 6–4.[1]
1978 Werner Zirngibl Ricardo Cano1–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–3.[1]
1979 Balázs Taróczy Ivan Lendl6–1, 1–6, 6–3.[1]
1980 Peter McNamara Balázs Taróczy7–6, 6–3, 6–0
1981 Marko Ostoja Ricardo Ycaza4–6, 6–4, 7–5.[1]

Men's doubles

YearChampionsRunners-upScore
1971Not finished
1972 Juan Gisbert Sr.
Manuel Orantes
Patricio Cornejo
Jaime Fillol
9–7, 6–3
1977Not 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

(incomplete roll)

YearChampionRunner-upScore
1897 Mlle van Lennep Mlle van Aken6–1, 6–1
1899 Marie-Rose Trasenster Alice Blanpain Comblen7–5, 4–6, 8–6
1900 Alice Blanpain Comblen Marie-Rose Trasenster7–9, 7–5, 9–7
1901 Marie-Rose Trasenster (2) Mme Everaerts6–2, 6–2
1902 Mildred Coles Mabel Squiredivided title
1903 Jeanne Chazal Digna Mijer van Lennep6–3, 6–0
1904[6] Vera Warden Ilse Seligman6–3, 6–4
1905 Jeanne Chazal (2) Marie-Rose Trasenster6–0, 7–5
1906 Marie Dufrénoy Jeanne Chazal6–3, 2–6, 6–4
1907 Mildred Coles (2) Marie Dufrénoy6–3, 11–9
1908 Marie Dufrénoy (2) Mildred Coles4–6, 6–4, 7–5
1909 Mildred Coles (3) Geneviève de Mot6–4, 6–3
1910 Jeanne Liebrechts Betty F.B. N. Quicke2–6, 10–8, 6–2
1911 Anne de Borman Jeanne Liebrechts6–4, 6–3
1912 Anne de Borman (2) Geneviève de Mot6–4, 6–3
1913 Anne de Borman (3) Marguerite Leguerrier6–3, 6–2
1914 Jeanne Liebrechts Anne de Borman6–4, 6–4
1915/1919Not held (due to World War I
1920 Anne de Borman (4) Marie Storms11–13, 6–4, 6–4
1921 Marie Storms Mlle de Spirlet6–2, 6–0
1930 Simonne Mathieu Elsa McAlpin Haylock1–6, 6–1, 8–6
1931 Susan Noel Marguerite du Monceau6–2, 6–2
1932 Josane Sigart Lili de Alvarez6–0, 2–6, 12–10
1934 Nelly Adamson Marguerite du Monceau5–7, 6–0, 6–3
1935 Hilde Krahwinkel Sperling Simonne Mathieu7–5, 6–3
1936 Sylvia Aubert Susan Noel7–5, 6–4
1939 Yvonne Hoyaux Susan Noel6–4, 3–6, 6–4
1940/1946Not held (due to World War II
1948[7] Pat Canning Todd Suzy Kormoczy6–2, 6–2
1951 Barbara Scofield Davidson Christiane Mercelis6–3, 6–0
1952 Angela Mortimer Patricia Harrison6–3, 6–4
1953 Christiane Mercelis Poucette Coessens6–3, 6–0
1954 Melita Ramirez Dorothy Watman Levine6–3, 6–4
1957 Heather Brewer-Segal Christiane Mercelis3–6, 6–4, 6–1
1958 Dottie Head Knode Christiane Mercelis6–1, 6–2
1959 Christiane Mercelis (2) Alice Heegewalt6–2, 6–1
1960 Christiane Mercelis (3) Norma Marsh4–6, 6–4, 6–3
1961 Christiane Mercelis (4) Carmen Hernandez-Coronado6–2, 6–4
1964 Christiane Mercelis (5) Jacqueline Kermina6–1, 6–4
1965 Julie Heldman Gail Sherriff9–7, 6–1
1966 Judy Tegart Gail Sherriff6–4, 6–4
1967 Gail Sherriff Ingrid Loeys4–6, 7–5, 6–1
1968 Judy Tegart (2) Gail Sherriff6–3, 7–5
↓  Open Era  ↓
1969[8] Ann Haydon Jones Rosie Casals6–4, 6–0
1970 Julie Heldman (2) Peaches Bartkowicz6–1, 6–2
1971/1986Not held
1987 Kathleen Horvath Bettina Bunge6–1, 7–6
1988 Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Raffaella Reggi6–0, 7–5
1989 Radka Zrubáková Mercedes Paz7–6, 6–4
1990/1991Not held
1992 Wiltrud Probst Meike Babel6–2, 6–3
1993 Radka Bobková Karin Kschwendt6–3, 4–6, 6–2
1994/1998Not held
1999 Justine Henin Sarah Pitkowski6–1, 6–2
2000 Amanda Coetzer Cristina Torrens Valero4–6, 6–2, 6–3
2001 Barbara Rittner Klára Zakopalová6–3, 6–2

Women's doubles

YearChampionsRunners-upScore
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
1990/1991Not 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
1994-98Not 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

References

External links