Belgian Players dominate first week of 2010 WTA Season

Three of the four singles finalists in the two tournaments that kicked off the start of the 2010 WTA season comes from Belgium - a country that, 10 years ago is more known to this blogger for its chocolates than it's tennis players. In a battle of former #1 players from Belgium, Kim Clijsters took 4 match points to beat Justine Henin at the Brisbane International, 63 46 76(6) for her 37th tour title. In Auckland, New Zealand, world #16 and 3rd seed Yanina Wickmayer, also of Belgium, beat top seed and world #12 Flavia Pennetta of Italy to win the ASB Classic. The 20-year old didn't lose a set in five matches and scored a convincing 6-3, 6-2 victory for her third WTA tour title.

Clijsters, who is just playing her 5th tournament since retiring from the tennis scene in May 2007 has now won two tournaments in her comeback - her first win in her comeback was the 2009 US Open in September of 2009. Henin is also on the comeback trail. She retired on May 2008 while ranked #1, and the Brisbane tournament is her first official WTA tournament. Between Henin and Clijsters, the two have won 9 grand slam titles - both are the only grand slam winners from their country. They are also the only tennis players from their country to have reached the #1 ranking.

Yanina Wickmayer's victory is all the more impressive considering that as late as last month, she was unsure if she would even play the 2010 season. While participating in the season's last 2009 tournament in Bali, Indonesia, she was dealt a one year ban from the Flemish Anti-Doping Tribunal due to her failure of reporting her whereabouts for drug testing three times. She has successfully appealed the ban and in December, the ban was overturned due to insufficient justification. Wickmayer needed a wildcard from tournament organizers to participate in the Auckland tournament. With the win, she has more than proven that her participation was very well deserved.

Judging by the way they started the year, these three players from Belgium will most likely be amongst the news makers this season.