# Belgian Open (tennis)

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. The event was part of the ILTF World Circuit 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 | Herbert Roper Barrett | Paul de Borman | 6–2, 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 Borman | 6–4, 6–3, 3–6, 6–3 |
| 1905 | Paul de Borman | Herbert Roper Barrett | 4–6, 6–1, 8–6, 6–0 |
| 1906 | Herbert Roper Barrett (6) | Willie Lemaire de Warzeé | 6–2, 6–2, 6–4 |
| 1910 | Anthony Wilding | Réginald Storms | 6–0, 6–1, 4–3, rtd. |
| 1912 | Georges Watson | Willie Lemaire de Warzeé | 6–2, 6–1, 6–1 |
| 1913 | Paul de Borman (2) | Georges Watson | 6–3, 3–6, 1–6, 6–4, 6–3 |
| 1914 | Jean Washer | Willie Lemaire de Warzeé | 6–4, 6–3, 6–1 |
| 1915-1919 | Not held (due to World War I) | Not held (due to World War I) | Not held (due to World War I) |
| 1920 | Jean Washer (2) | Gerard Scheurleer | 6–0, 6–2, 6–3 |
| 1921 | Arthur Diemer Kool | Amos Niven Wilder | 6–1, 8–6, 6–2 |
| 1925 | Jean Washer (3) | André Laloux | 6–2, 6–0, 6–3 |
| 1930 * | Jean Borotra | Henri Cochet | 4–6, 6–3, 6–4, 4–6, 8–6 |
| 1930 ** | Franz Matejka | Jean Lesueur | 6–1, 6–2, 6–3 |
| 1932 | André Martin-Legeay | Pierre Goldschmidt | 6–1, 7–5 |
| 1934 | André Lacroix | Pierre Geelhand de Merxem | 6–1, 6–3, 6–2 |
| 1935 | Fred Perry | Hermann Artens | 6–3, 9–7, 6–3 |
| 1936 | André Lacroix (2) | Jack Van den Eynde | 1–6, 6–2, 6–4 |
| 1937 | Patrick Tiberghien | Hans van Swol | 6–3, 6–4 |
| 1940-1946 | Not held (due to World War II) | Not held (due to World War II) | Not held (due to World War II) |
| 1947 | Jacques Peten | Andre Najar | 6–2, 6–4, 6–2 |
| 1948 | Frank Parker | Budge Patty | 6–1, 1–6, 3–6, 6–1, 6–2 |
| 1949 | Bernard Destremau | Franjo Punčec | 1–1, rtd. |
| 1950 | Pierre Geelhand de Merxem | Jacques Sanglier | 6–3, 5–7, 6–1 |
| 1951 | Eric Sturgess | Jaroslav Drobný | 6–0, 6–1, 6–0 |
| 1952 | Ken McGregor | Tony Trabert | 6–4, 6–2, 5–7, 2–6, 6–4 |
| 1954 | Lorne Main | Irvin Dorfman | 6–2, 1–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
| 1955 | Mervyn Rose | Philippe Washer | 7–5, 6–1 |
| 1956 | Jacques Brichant | Ulf Schmidt | 6–3, 6–1 |
| 1957 | Jacques Brichant (2) | Ladislav Legenstein | 6–4, 6–2, 5–7, 2–6, 6–4 |
| 1958 | Jacques Brichant (3) | Ulf Schmidt | 6–2, 8–6 |
| 1959 | Jacques Brichant (4) | Antonio Palafox | 8–6, 6–2, 6–1 |
| 1960 | Billy Knight | Jacques Brichant | 9–7, 6–4 |
| 1961 | Jacques Brichant (5) | Mario Llamas | 6–3, 6–8, 6–4 |
| 1962 | Jacques Brichant (6) | Ramanathan Krishnan | 6–2, 6–4 |
| 1963 | Ramanathan Krishnan | Nicola Pietrangeli | 6–1, 1–6, 6–2 |
| 1964 | Michel Leclercq | Alain Bresson | 6–3, 6–2, 6–4 |
| 1965 | Ken Fletcher | José Edison Mandarino | 11–9, 4–6, 6–2 |
| 1966 | Tom Okker | Bob Carmichael | 8–10, 6–3, 6–3 |
| 1967 | Tom Okker (2) | Jim Moore | 6–2, 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, 6–2 |
| 1970 | 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 |
| 1973-1976 | Not held | Not held | Not held |
| 1977 | 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, 6–3 |
| 1980 | Peter McNamara | Balázs Taróczy | 7–6, 6–3, 6–0 |
| 1981 | Marko Ostoja | Ricardo Ycaza | 4–6, 6–4, 7–5 |

### Men's doubles

| Year | Champions | Runners-up | Score |
| 1971 | Not finished | Not finished | Not finished |
| 1972 | Juan Gisbert Sr. Manuel Orantes | Patricio Cornejo Jaime Fillol | 9–7, 6–3 |
| 1977 | Not finished | Not finished | 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

(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 | 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) | Not held (due to World War I) | 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 |
| 1939 | Yvonne Hoyaux | Susan Noel | 6–4, 3–6, 6–4 |
| 1940-1946 | Not held (due to World War II) | Not held (due to World War II) | Not held (due to World War II) |
| 1947 | Myriam de Borman | Josane de Meulemeester | 12–10, 6–4 |
| 1948 | Pat Canning Todd | Zsuzsa Körmöczy | 6–2, 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 Harrison | 6–3, 6–4 |
| 1954 | Melita Ramirez | Dorothy Watman Levine | 6–3, 6–4 |
| 1955 | Lea Pericoli | Christiane Mercelis | 6–3, 6–3 |
| 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 | No international event held | 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 | Ann Haydon Jones | Rosie Casals | 6–4, 6–0 |
| 1970 | Julie Heldman (2) | Peaches Bartkowicz | 6–1, 6–2 |
| 1971-1986 | Not held | Not held | 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 | Not held | 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 | Not held | 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

| 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 | Not held | 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 | Not held | 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 |