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Belgian Open (tennis)

Field	Value
name	Belgian Open
type	defunct
tour	ILTF (1913-1969) men
ILTF (1913-1972) women
ILTF Grand Prix Circuit (men)
WTA Tour (women)
category	Tier IV (1993, 1999, 2000, 2002)
Tier V (1992, 2001)
founded
ended	(men)
(women)
location	Brussels
(1899-1981, 1988-89)
Knokke
(1987)
Waregem
(1992)
Liège
(1993)
Antwerp
(1999-2001)
surface	Clay / outdoor

ILTF (1913-1972) women ILTF Grand Prix Circuit (men) WTA Tour (women) Tier V (1992, 2001) (women) (1899-1981, 1988-89) Knokke
(1987) Waregem
(1992) Liège (1993) Antwerp
(1999-2001) 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 (**).

Year	Champions	Runners-up	Score
1899	GBR Herbert Roper Barrett	BEL Paul de Borman	6–2, 6–0, 6–2
1900	GBR Herbert Roper Barrett (2)	BEL Paul de Borman	6–3, 6–3, 6–2
1901	GBR Herbert Roper Barrett (3)	BEL Willie Lemaire de Warzeé	6–1, 6–2, 6–4
1902	GBR Herbert Roper Barrett (4)	BEL Paul de Borman	6–3, 7–5, 7–5
1903	GBR Herbert Roper Barrett (5)	BEL Paul de Borman	6–4, 6–3, 3–6, 6–3
1905	BEL Paul de Borman	GBR Herbert Roper Barrett	4–6, 6–1, 8–6, 6–0
1906	GBR Herbert Roper Barrett (6)	BEL Willie Lemaire de Warzeé	6–2, 6–2, 6–4
1910	NZL Anthony Wilding	BEL Réginald Storms	6–0, 6–1, 4–3, rtd.
1912	BEL Georges Watson	BEL Willie Lemaire de Warzeé	6–2, 6–1, 6–1
1913	BEL Paul de Borman (2)	BEL Georges Watson	6–3, 3–6, 1–6, 6–4, 6–3
1914	BEL Jean Washer	BEL Willie Lemaire de Warzeé	6–4, 6–3, 6–1
1915-1919	Not held (due to World War I)
1920	BEL Jean Washer (2)	NED Gerard Scheurleer	6–0, 6–2, 6–3
1921	NED Arthur Diemer Kool	USA Amos Niven Wilder	6–1, 8–6, 6–2
1925	BEL Jean Washer (3)	BEL André Laloux	6–2, 6–0, 6–3
1930 *	FRA Jean Borotra	FRA Henri Cochet	4–6, 6–3, 6–4, 4–6, 8–6
1930 **	AUT Franz Matejka	FRA Jean Lesueur	6–1, 6–2, 6–3
1932	FRA André Martin-Legeay	FRA Pierre Goldschmidt	6–1, 7–5
1934	BEL André Lacroix	BEL Pierre Geelhand de Merxem	6–1, 6–3, 6–2
1935	GBR Fred Perry	AUT Hermann Artens	6–3, 9–7, 6–3
1936	BEL André Lacroix (2)	BEL Jack Van den Eynde	1–6, 6–2, 6–4
1937	FRA Patrick Tiberghien	NED Hans van Swol	title=Tennis	url=https://www.belgicapress.be/?lang=EN	date=19 May 1937	newspaper=Gazette de Charleroi	access-date=27 October 2024}}
1940-1946	Not held (due to World War II)
1947	BEL Jacques Peten	EGY Andre Najar	title=Le tournoi du Léopold Club	url=https://www.belgicapress.be/?lang=EN	date=27 May 1947	newspaper=Le Soir	access-date=27 October 2024}}
1948	USA Frank Parker	USA Budge Patty	title=Les championnats internationaux de Belgique	url=https://www.belgicapress.be/?lang=EN	date=7 June 1948	newspaper=Le Soir	access-date=27 October 2024}}
1949	FRA Bernard Destremau	YUG Franjo Punčec	title=Le tournois international	url=https://www.belgicapress.be/?lang=EN	date=13 June 1949	newspaper= La Libre Belgique	access-date=27 October 2024}}
1950	BEL Pierre Geelhand de Merxem	FRA Jacques Sanglier	title=Le tournois international du Racing	url=https://www.belgicapress.be/?lang=EN	newspaper=Le Soir	date=12 June 1950	access-date=27 October 2024}}
1951	RSA Eric Sturgess	Egypt Jaroslav Drobný	6–0, 6–1, 6–0
1952	AUS Ken McGregor	USA Tony Trabert	6–4, 6–2, 5–7, 2–6, 6–4
1954	CAN Lorne Main	USA Irvin Dorfman	6–2, 1–6, 6–3, 6–4
1955	AUS Mervyn Rose	BEL Philippe Washer	title=Nouvelles sportives	url=https://www.belgicapress.be/?lang=EN	newspaper=Courrier d'Afrique	date=6 June 1955	access-date=27 October 2024}}
1956	BEL Jacques Brichant	SWE Ulf Schmidt	title=Le tournois du Racing C. B.	url=https://www.belgicapress.be/?lang=EN	newspaper=Le Soir	date=28 May 1956	access-date=27 October 2024}}
1957	BEL Jacques Brichant (2)	AUT Ladislav Legenstein	title=Le tournois du Racing C. B.	url=https://www.belgicapress.be/?lang=EN	newspaper=Le Soir	date=3 June 1957	access-date=27 October 2024}}
1958	BEL Jacques Brichant (3)	SWE Ulf Schmidt	title=L'Americaine Mrs. Knode et Jacky Brichant enlevent les eprouves de simple	url=https://www.belgicapress.be/?lang=EN	newspaper=Le Soir	date=2 June 1958	access-date=27 October 2024}}
1959	BEL Jacques Brichant (4)	MEX Antonio Palafox	8–6, 6–2, 6–1
1960	GBR Billy Knight	BEL Jacques Brichant	title=Le tournois international	url=https://www.belgicapress.be/?lang=EN	newspaper=Le Soir	date=29 May 1960	access-date=27 October 2024}}
1961	BEL Jacques Brichant (5)	MEX Mario Llamas	title=Le tournois international	url=https://www.belgicapress.be/?lang=EN	newspaper=Le Soir	date=28 May 1961	access-date=27 October 2024}}
1962	BEL Jacques Brichant (6)	IND Ramanathan Krishnan	title=Le tournois international du Beerschot	url=https://www.belgicapress.be/?lang=EN	newspaper=Le Soir	date=15 July 1962	access-date=27 October 2024}}
1963	IND Ramanathan Krishnan	ITA Nicola Pietrangeli	title=Le tournois international du Beerschot	url=https://www.belgicapress.be/?lang=EN	newspaper=Le Soir	date=14 July 1963	access-date=27 October 2024}}
1964	FRA Michel Leclercq	FRA Alain Bresson	6–3, 6–2, 6–4
1965	AUS Ken Fletcher	BRA José Edison Mandarino	11–9, 4–6, 6–2
1966	NED Tom Okker	AUS Bob Carmichael	8–10, 6–3, 6–3
1967	NED Tom Okker (2)	AUS Jim Moore	6–2, 6–2, 6–0
1968	TCH Štěpán Koudelka	USA Steve Tidball	1–6, 6–1, 6–2
↓ Open Era ↓
1969	NED Tom Okker (3)	YUG Željko Franulović	6–4, 1–6, 6–2, 6–2
1970	NED Tom Okker (4)	ROU Ilie Năstase	6–3, 6–4, 0–6, 4–6, 6–4
1971	RSA Cliff Drysdale	ROU Ilie Năstase	6–0, 6–1, 7–5
1972	ESP Manuel Orantes	ESP Andrés Gimeno	6–4, 6–1, 2–6, 7–5
1973-1976	Not held
1977	USA Harold Solomon	FRG Karl Meiler	7–5, 3–6, 2–6, 6–3, 6–4
1978	FRG Werner Zirngibl	ARG Ricardo Cano	1–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–3
1979	HUN Balázs Taróczy	TCH Ivan Lendl	6–1, 1–6, 6–3
1980	AUS Peter McNamara	HUN Balázs Taróczy	7–6, 6–3, 6–0
1981	YUG Marko Ostoja	ECU Ricardo Ycaza	4–6, 6–4, 7–5

Men's doubles

Year	Champions	Runners-up	Score
1971	Not finished
1972	ESP Juan Gisbert Sr.
ESP Manuel Orantes	CHL Patricio Cornejo
CHL Jaime Fillol	9–7, 6–3
1977	Not finished
1978	FRA Jean-Louis Haillet
ITA Antonio Zugarelli	NZL Onny Parun
CZE Vladimír Zedník	6–3, 4–6, 7–5
1979	USA Billy Martin
AUS Peter McNamara	BRA Carlos Kirmayr
HUN Balázs Taróczy	5–7, 7–5, 6–4
1980	USA Steve Krulevitz
BEL Thierry Stevaux	USA Eric Fromm
USA Cary Leeds	6–3, 7–5
1981	ARG Ricardo Cano
ECU Andrés Gómez	BRA Carlos Kirmayr
BRA Cássio Motta	6–2, 6–2

Women's singles

(incomplete roll)

Year	Champion	Runner-up	Score
1897	NED Mlle van Lennep	BEL Mlle van Aken	6–1, 6–1
1899	BEL Marie-Rose Trasenster	BEL Alice Blanpain Comblen	7–5, 4–6, 8–6
1900	BEL Alice Blanpain Comblen	BEL Marie-Rose Trasenster	7–9, 7–5, 9–7
1901	BEL Marie-Rose Trasenster (2)	BEL Mme Everaerts	6–2, 6–2
1902	GBR Mildred Coles	GBR Mabel Squire	divided title
1903	BEL Jeanne Chazal	NED Digna Mijer van Lennep	6–3, 6–0
1904	USA Vera Warden	Germany Ilse Seligman	6–3, 6–4
1905	BEL Jeanne Chazal (2)	BEL Marie-Rose Trasenster	6–0, 7–5
1906	BEL Marie Dufrénoy	BEL Jeanne Chazal	6–3, 2–6, 6–4
1907	GBR Mildred Coles (2)	BEL Marie Dufrénoy	6–3, 11–9
1908	BEL Marie Dufrénoy (2)	GBR Mildred Coles	4–6, 6–4, 7–5
1909	GBR Mildred Coles (3)	BEL Geneviève de Mot	6–4, 6–3
1910	BEL Jeanne Liebrechts	GBR Betty F.B. N. Quicke	2–6, 10–8, 6–2
1911	BEL Anne de Borman	BEL Jeanne Liebrechts	6–4, 6–3
1912	BEL Anne de Borman (2)	BEL Geneviève de Mot	6–4, 6–3
1913	BEL Anne de Borman (3)	BEL Marguerite Leguerrier	6–3, 6–2
1914	BEL Jeanne Liebrechts	BEL Anne de Borman	6–4, 6–4
1915-1919	Not held (due to World War I)
1920	BEL Anne de Borman (4)	BEL Marie Storms	11–13, 6–4, 6–4
1921	BEL Marie Storms	BEL Mlle de Spirlet	6–2, 6–0
1930	FRA Simonne Mathieu	GBR Elsa McAlpin Haylock	1–6, 6–1, 8–6
1931	GBR Susan Noel	BEL Marguerite du Monceau	6–2, 6–2
1932	BEL Josane Sigart	ESP Lili de Alvarez	6–0, 2–6, 12–10
1934	BEL Nelly Adamson	BEL Marguerite du Monceau	5–7, 6–0, 6–3
1935	DEN Hilde Krahwinkel Sperling	FRA Simonne Mathieu	7–5, 6–3
1936	FRA Sylvia Aubert	GBR Susan Noel	7–5, 6–4
1937	BEL Nadine De Bary	BEL Sole	title=Tennis	url=https://www.belgicapress.be/?lang=EN	date=17 May 1937	newspaper=La Nation Belge	access-date=27 October 2024}}
1939	BEL Yvonne Hoyaux	GBR Susan Noel	6–4, 3–6, 6–4
1940-1946	Not held (due to World War II)
1947	BEL Myriam de Borman	BEL Josane de Meulemeester	12–10, 6–4
1948	USA Pat Canning Todd	HUN Zsuzsa Körmöczy	6–2, 6–2
1949	BEL Myriam de Borman	HOL Nel Hermsen	6–4, 6–1
1950	HOL Nel Hermsen	FRA Myrtil Dubois-Brunarius	6–3, 6–1
1951	USA Barbara Scofield Davidson	BEL Christiane Mercelis	6–3, 6–0
1952	GBR Angela Mortimer	GBR Patricia Harrison	6–3, 6–4
1954	MEX Melita Ramirez	USA Dorothy Watman Levine	6–3, 6–4
1955	ITA Lea Pericoli	BEL Christiane Mercelis	6–3, 6–3
1956	Unknown
1957	RSA Heather Brewer-Segal	BEL Christiane Mercelis	3–6, 6–4, 6–1
1958	USA Dottie Head Knode	BEL Christiane Mercelis	6–1, 6–2
1959	BEL Christiane Mercelis (2)	CHI Alice Heegewalt	6–2, 6–1
1960	BEL Christiane Mercelis (3)	AUS Norma Marsh	4–6, 6–4, 6–3
1961	BEL Christiane Mercelis (4)	ESP Carmen Hernandez-Coronado	6–2, 6–4
1962-1963	No international event held
1964	BEL Christiane Mercelis (5)	FRA Jacqueline Kermina	6–1, 6–4
1965	USA Julie Heldman	AUS Gail Sherriff	9–7, 6–1
1966	AUS Judy Tegart	AUS Gail Sherriff	6–4, 6–4
1967	AUS Gail Sherriff	BEL Ingrid Loeys	4–6, 7–5, 6–1
1968	AUS Judy Tegart (2)	AUS Gail Sherriff	6–3, 7–5
↓ Open Era ↓
1969	GBR Ann Haydon Jones	USA Rosie Casals	6–4, 6–0
1970	USA Julie Heldman (2)	USA Peaches Bartkowicz	6–1, 6–2
1971-1986	Not held
1987	USA Kathleen Horvath	West Germany Bettina Bunge	6–1, 7–6
1988	ESP Arantxa Sánchez Vicario	ITA Raffaella Reggi	6–0, 7–5
1989	TCH Radka Zrubáková	ARG Mercedes Paz	7–6, 6–4
1990-1991	Not held
1992	DEU Wiltrud Probst	DEU Meike Babel	6–2, 6–3
1993	CZE Radka Bobková	AUT Karin Kschwendt	6–3, 4–6, 6–2
1994-1998	Not held
1999	BEL Justine Henin	FRA Sarah Pitkowski	6–1, 6–2
2000	RSA Amanda Coetzer	ESP Cristina Torrens Valero	4–6, 6–2, 6–3
2001	DEU Barbara Rittner	CZE Klára Zakopalová	6–3, 6–2

Women's doubles

Year	Champions	Runners-up	Score
1987	West Germany Bettina Bunge
BUL Manuela Maleeva	USA Kathleen Horvath
NED Marcella Mesker	4–6, 6–4, 6–4
1988	ARG Mercedes Paz
DEN Tine Scheuer-Larsen	BUL Katerina Maleeva
ITA Raffaella Reggi	7–6, 6–1
1989	NED Manon Bollegraf
ARG Mercedes Paz	NED Carin Bakkum
NED Simone Schilder	6–1, 6–2
1990-1991	Not held
1992	NED Manon Bollegraf
NED Caroline Vis	URS Elena Brioukhovets
TCH Petra Langrová	6–4, 6–3
1993	CZE Radka Bobková
ARG María José Gaidano	BEL Ann Devries
BEL Dominique Monami	6–4, 2–6, 7–6
1994-98	Not held
1999	ITA Laura Golarsa
SVN Katarina Srebotnik	AUS Louise Pleming
USA Meghann Shaughnessy	6–4, 6–2
2000	BEL Sabine Appelmans
BEL Kim Clijsters	USA Jennifer Hopkins
SVN Petra Rampre	6–1, 6–1
2001	BEL Els Callens
ESP Virginia Ruano Pascual	NED Kristie Boogert
NED Miriam Oremans	6–3, 3–6, 6–4

References

"Tournaments:Belgian International Championships - Belgian Open". Tennismem SL.
"Georges Watson : Overview". ATP.
"Pierre Goldschmidt: Overview". ATP.
(19 May 1937). "Tennis". Gazette de Charleroi.
(27 May 1947). "Le tournoi du Léopold Club". [[Le Soir]].
(7 June 1948). "Les championnats internationaux de Belgique". [[Le Soir]].
(13 June 1949). "Le tournois international". La Libre Belgique.
(12 June 1950). "Le tournois international du Racing". [[Le Soir]].
(6 June 1955). "Nouvelles sportives". Courrier d'Afrique.
(28 May 1956). "Le tournois du Racing C. B.". [[Le Soir]].
(3 June 1957). "Le tournois du Racing C. B.". [[Le Soir]].
(2 June 1958). "L'Americaine Mrs. Knode et Jacky Brichant enlevent les eprouves de simple". [[Le Soir]].
(29 May 1960). "Le tournois international". [[Le Soir]].
(28 May 1961). "Le tournois international". [[Le Soir]].
(15 July 1962). "Le tournois international du Beerschot". [[Le Soir]].
(14 July 1963). "Le tournois international du Beerschot". [[Le Soir]].
"Alain Bresson: Overview". ATP.
"Steve Tidball: Overview". ATP.
(18 Sep 1904). "WAS CHAMPION AT BRUSSELS". Wikipedia Library - newspapers.com.
(17 May 1937). "Tennis". La Nation Belge.
(7 Jun 1948). "American Players Win at Brussels". Wikipedia Library - newspapers.com.
(19 May 1969). "Okker Wins Belgian Open Tennis Meet". Wikipedia Library - newspapers.com.

Wikipedia Source

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