Tennis update: WTA returns to Belgium
The WTA makes a comeback to Belgium after a two year absence, as the country's largest city gets ready to host the annual competition in 2011. The Brussels Ladies Open tournament will be a $618,000 Premier contest contested on
red clay. A field of thirty single and sixteen doubles pair will fight it out for the title. The event that begins on May 16, serves as the warm up to the year’s second Grand Slam, the French Open in Roland Garros. It will be a good opportunity for all the
contenders to get one last tune-up prior to the clay court Grand Slam later in May.
Jean Francois Caujolle, who is the director of the tournament while commenting on the significance of its timing said, "We are concerned with creating a special and charming atmosphere for the players and to welcome the best way
possible all the tennis fans. Also to be located the week prior to the French Open will give the opportunity to the girls to play and practice in very similar conditions to Paris - clay, balls, temperature - but away from the effervescent preparation of Roland
Garros. Brussels is one hour, 20 minutes by train to Paris."
Brussels, with the population of over one million, is a major centre for world politics. The head quarter of the European Union is also located in the city, along with NATO, thus, making Brussels a capital of diplomats as well
as politicians.
All sorts of sports are famous and liked by the people in Brussels however, the country has a strong history in tennis. Belgium has previously hosted a couple of events over the years, including the Belgian Open, which rotated
throughout different cities in the small country. It was held in Brussels back in 1988 and 89 and the city also hosted a competition back in 2002.
Antwerp had its own events from 1999 to 2008, and was the last Belgian stop of the Women Tennis Association until now.
According to the director of the competition, it makes a lot of sense for the country to have its own contest. "Belgium is well represented at the highest level of women's tennis by players such as Clijsters, Henin, Wickmayer,
and Flipkens. And we cannot forget that there is a long history filled with many players who have made a large contribution to women's tennis. The list includes names such as Sabine Appelmans, Els Callens and Dominique Monami. The game of tennis is extremely
famous in Belgium apart from cycling and soccer."
The city of Brussels also enjoys the distinction of conducting the world record crowd for a tennis battle; 35,681, taking place on July 8, 2010 when the Belgian tennis ace Kim Clijsters and Serena Williams from the United States
of America fought it out at the Best of Belgium exhibition show. It was originally scheduled to take place between Kim and her fellow Belgian, Justine Henin however the former world number one Serena Williams stepped in to replace the injured Justine. Clijsters,
in the end, turned out to be victorious at the Brussels' King Baudouin Stadium, thrashing out Serena in two sets. The final match score was 6-3, 6-2.
The next year’s Brussels Ladies Open, however, will not be played at the 50,000-seat King Baudouin. In fact, the women tennis players will all compete at the Royal Primerose Tennis Club which is a historical club of tennis and
will go through renovation in order to make the competition successful and more exciting.
Tags: