Diamond Games Explained

Diamond Games
Logo Size:200px
Founded:2002–2009, 2015
City:Antwerp
Country:Belgium
Venue:Sportpaleis Merksem
Tier:Tier II (2002–2009)
WTA Premier (2015)
Surface:Hard (indoors)
Draw:28S / 16D
Prize Money:$731,000
Website:Sport.be

The Diamond Games (due to sponsorship known for the last time as BNP Paribas Fortis Diamond Games and before that Proximus Diamond Games, GDF-Suez Diamond Games and Thomas Cook Diamond Games) was a professional women's tennis tournament organised in Antwerp, Belgium. The tournament took place in the Sportpaleis, at the beginning of February.

In 2009, with the restructuring of the WTA Tour and the retirement of both Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin, the tournament lost its status of being a WTA Tour tournament and evolved into an annual exhibition tennis event before returning to the WTA calendar in 2015.[1] Later this year, however, WTA announced that in 2016, the Diamond Games would be replaced on the WTA calendar with a new tournament in St. Petersburg, Russia.[2]

The Diamond Games offers a trophy to any player who wins the singles three times in five years. In 2007, Amélie Mauresmo won a golden racquet decorated with diamonds.[3] A new trophy was unveiled in 2008, which featured a golden racquet and a ball, and was decorated with 2008 diamonds.[4]

Past finals

Singles

YearChampionsRunners-upScore
↓  Tier II tournament  ↓
2002 6–3, 5–7, 6–3
2003 Venus Williams (2) 6–2, 6–4
2004 6–3, 6–0
2005 4–6, 7–5, 6–4
2006 Amélie Mauresmo (2) 3–6, 6–3, 6–3
2007 Amélie Mauresmo (3) 6–4, 7–6(7–4)
2008 6–3, 6–3
2009–14 Only exhibition tournaments held
↓  Premier tournament  ↓
2015 Walkover

Doubles

YearChampionsRunners-upScore
↓  Tier II tournament  ↓
6–3, 6–7(3–7), 6–3
6–2, 6–0
6–2, 6–1
Cara Black (2)
Els Callens (2)
3–6, 6–4, 6–4
6–1, 6–1
7–5, 4–6, 6–1
Cara Black (4)
Liezel Huber (2)
6–1, 6–3
2009–14 Only exhibition tournaments held
↓  Premier tournament  ↓
6–4, 3–6, [10–5]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: WTA Event In Antwerp Will Be Replaced With New Tournament In St. Petersburg. Vavel. 2015-09-26.
  2. Web site: WTA Heads to St. Petersburg in 2016. Women's Tennis Association (WTA). 2015-09-26.
  3. Web site: Amelie's diamond day. The Sydney Morning Herald. 19 February 2007 . 2015-09-26.
  4. Web site: The custom tennis racquet money can't buy. GiveMeSport. 2015-09-26. 2018-09-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20180920195559/https://www.givemesport.com/498436-the-custom-tennis-racquet-money-cant-buy. dead.