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 was an ILTF-sanctioned independent event, then it joined the Grand Prix tennis 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 (**). YearChampionsRunners-upScore1899 Herbert Roper Barrett Paul de Borman6–2, 6–0, 6–2 1900 Herbert Roper Barrett (2) Paul de Borman 6–3, 6–3, 6–2 1901 Herbert Roper Barrett (3) Willie Lemaire de Warzeé 6–1, 6–2, 6–4 1902 Herbert Roper Barrett (4) Paul de Borman 6–3, 7–5, 7–5 1903 Herbert Roper Barrett (5) Paul de Borman6–4, 6–3, 3–6, 6–3 1905 Paul de Borman Herbert Roper Barrett4–6, 6–1, 8–6, 6–0 1906 Herbert Roper Barrett (6) Willie Lemaire de Warzeé6–2, 6–2, 6–4 1910 Anthony Wilding Réginald Storms6–0, 6–1, 4–3, rtd. 1912 Georges Watson Willie Lemaire de Warzeé6–2, 6–1, 6–1 1913 Paul de Borman (2) Georges Watson6–3, 3–6, 1–6, 6–4, 6–3 1914 Jean Washer Willie Lemaire de Warzeé6–4, 6–3, 6–1 1915-1919Not held (due to World War I)1920 Jean Washer (2) Gerard Scheurleer6–0, 6–2, 6–3 1921 Arthur Diemer Kool Amos Niven Wilder6–1, 8–6, 6–2 1925 Jean Washer (3) André Laloux6–2, 6–0, 6–3 1930 * Jean Borotra Henri Cochet4–6, 6–3, 6–4, 4–6, 8–6 1930 ** Franz Matejka Jean Lesueur6–1, 6–2, 6–3 1932 André Martin-Legeay Pierre Goldschmidt6–1, 7–5 1934 André Lacroix Pierre Geelhand de Merxem6–1, 6–3, 6–2 1935 Fred Perry Hermann Artens6–3, 9–7, 6–3 1936 André Lacroix (2) Jack Van den Eynde1–6, 6–2, 6–4 1937 Patrick Tiberghien Hans van Swol6–3, 6–41940-1946Not held (due to World War II)1947 Jacques Peten Andre Najar6–2, 6–4, 6–21948 Frank Parker Budge Patty6–1, 1–6, 3–6, 6–1, 6–21949 Bernard Destremau Franjo Punčec1–1, rtd.1950 Pierre Geelhand de Merxem Jacques Sanglier6–3, 5–7, 6–11951 Eric Sturgess Jaroslav Drobný6–0, 6–1, 6–0 1952 Ken McGregor Tony Trabert6–4, 6–2, 5–7, 2–6, 6–4 1954 Lorne Main Irvin Dorfman6–2, 1–6, 6–3, 6–4 1955 Mervyn Rose Philippe Washer7–5, 6–11956 Jacques Brichant Ulf Schmidt6–3, 6–11957 Jacques Brichant (2) Ladislav Legenstein6–4, 6–2, 5–7, 2–6, 6–41958 Jacques Brichant (3) Ulf Schmidt6–2, 8–6 1959 Jacques Brichant (4) Antonio Palafox8–6, 6–2, 6–1 1960 Billy Knight Jacques Brichant9–7, 6–4 1961 Jacques Brichant (5) Mario Llamas6–3, 6–8, 6–4 1962 Jacques Brichant (6) Ramanathan Krishnan6–2, 6–4 1963 Ramanathan Krishnan Nicola Pietrangeli6–1, 1–6, 6–2 1964 Michel Leclercq Alain Bresson6–3, 6–2, 6–4 1965 Ken Fletcher José Edison Mandarino11–9, 4–6, 6–2 1966 Tom Okker Bob Carmichael8–10, 6–3, 6–3 1967 Tom Okker (2) Jim Moore6–2, 6–2, 6–0 1968 Štěpán Koudelka Steve Tidball 1–6, 6–1, 6–2 ↓ Open Era ↓1969 Tom Okker (3) Željko Franulović 6–4, 1–6, 6–2, 6–21970 Tom Okker (4) Ilie Năstase 6–3, 6–4, 0–6, 4–6, 6–4 1971 Cliff Drysdale Ilie Năstase 6–0, 6–1, 7–5 1972 Manuel Orantes Andrés Gimeno 6–4, 6–1, 2–6, 7–5 1973-1976Not held1977 Harold Solomon Karl Meiler 7–5, 3–6, 2–6, 6–3, 6–4 1978 Werner Zirngibl Ricardo Cano 1–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–3 1979 Balázs Taróczy Ivan Lendl 6–1, 1–6, 6–31980 Peter McNamara Balázs Taróczy 7–6, 6–3, 6–0 1981 Marko Ostoja Ricardo Ycaza 4–6, 6–4, 7–5
Men's doubles YearChampionsRunners-upScore1971 Not finished1972 Juan Gisbert Sr. Manuel Orantes Patricio Cornejo Jaime Fillol 9–7, 6–31977 Not finished1978 Jean-Louis Haillet Antonio Zugarelli Onny Parun Vladimír Zedník 6–3, 4–6, 7–51979 Billy Martin Peter McNamara Carlos Kirmayr Balázs Taróczy 5–7, 7–5, 6–41980 Steve Krulevitz Thierry Stevaux Eric Fromm Cary Leeds 6–3, 7–51981 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 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 Squiredivided title 1903 Jeanne Chazal Digna Mijer van Lennep 6–3, 6–0 1904 Vera Warden Ilse Seligman6–3, 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 Mot6–4, 6–3 1910 Jeanne Liebrechts Betty F.B. N. Quicke 2–6, 10–8, 6–2 1911 Anne de Borman Jeanne Liebrechts6–4, 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 Borman6–4, 6–4 1915-1919Not 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 Haylock1–6, 6–1, 8–6 1931 Susan Noel Marguerite du Monceau 6–2, 6–2 1932 Josane Sigart Lili de Alvarez6–0, 2–6, 12–10 1934 Nelly Adamson Marguerite du Monceau 5–7, 6–0, 6–3 1935 Hilde Krahwinkel Sperling Simonne Mathieu7–5, 6–3 1936 Sylvia Aubert Susan Noel7–5, 6–4 1937 Nadine De Bary Sole0–6, 6–4, 6–4 1939 Yvonne Hoyaux Susan Noel6–4, 3–6, 6–41940-1946Not held (due to World War II) 1947 Myriam de Borman Josane de Meulemeester 12–10, 6–4 1948 Pat Canning Todd Zsuzsa Körmöczy6–2, 6–2 1949 Myriam de Borman Nel Hermsen 6–4, 6–1 1950 Nel Hermsen Myrtil Dubois-Brunarius 6–3, 6–1 1951 Barbara Scofield Davidson Christiane Mercelis 6–3, 6–0 1952 Angela Mortimer Patricia Harrison6–3, 6–4 1954 Melita Ramirez Dorothy Watman Levine6–3, 6–4 1955 Lea Pericoli Christiane Mercelis6–3, 6–3 1956Unknown 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 1962-1963No international event held 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 Loeys 4–6, 7–5, 6–1 1968 Judy Tegart (2) Gail Sherriff6–3, 7–5↓ Open Era ↓ 1969 Ann Haydon Jones Rosie Casals6–4, 6–0 1970 Julie Heldman (2) Peaches Bartkowicz6–1, 6–21971-1986Not held1987 Kathleen Horvath Bettina Bunge 6–1, 7–61988 Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Raffaella Reggi 6–0, 7–51989 Radka Zrubáková Mercedes Paz 7–6, 6–41990-1991Not held1992 Wiltrud Probst Meike Babel 6–2, 6–31993 Radka Bobková Karin Kschwendt 6–3, 4–6, 6–21994-1998Not held1999 Justine Henin Sarah Pitkowski 6–1, 6–22000 Amanda Coetzer Cristina Torrens Valero 4–6, 6–2, 6–32001 Barbara Rittner Klára Zakopalová 6–3, 6–2
Women's doubles YearChampionsRunners-upScore1987 Bettina Bunge Manuela Maleeva Kathleen Horvath Marcella Mesker 4–6, 6–4, 6–41988 Mercedes Paz Tine Scheuer-Larsen Katerina Maleeva Raffaella Reggi 7–6, 6–11989 Manon Bollegraf Mercedes Paz Carin Bakkum Simone Schilder 6–1, 6–21990-1991Not held1992 Manon Bollegraf Caroline Vis Elena Brioukhovets Petra Langrová 6–4, 6–31993 Radka Bobková María José Gaidano Ann Devries Dominique Monami 6–4, 2–6, 7–61994-98 Not held 1999 Laura Golarsa Katarina Srebotnik Louise Pleming Meghann Shaughnessy 6–4, 6–22000 Sabine Appelmans Kim Clijsters Jennifer Hopkins Petra Rampre 6–1, 6–12001 Els Callens Virginia Ruano Pascual Kristie Boogert Miriam Oremans 6–3, 3–6, 6–4
See also Diamond Games – women's tournament (2002–2008, 2015) :Category:National and multi-national tennis tournaments
References