[Brαm]

I'm really looking forward to this tournament!!! Not only because those super stars like Henin, Clijsters, Mauresmo, Serena & Dokic will play here, but also because some Belgian Babes get a chance to play in a big tournament and win some points.

From the website:

The tournament starts Friday 8 February with the Belgian Pre-Qualify, at which there are Wild Cards to be won for the tournament qualifying rounds Eight Belgian ladies will win a place on the Belgian Pre-Qualify.

These eight players will each play one match; the winner of each match will get a Wild Card for the qualifying rounds which start Saturday 9 February.

Participants in the Belgian Pre-Qualify include :

Caroline Maes ranking no. 315<br />Patty Van Acker ranking no. 341<br />Leslie Butkiewicz ranking no. 357<br />Stéphanie De Villé ranking no. 985 (I thought she had retired?)<br />Evelyne Van Hyfte ranking no. 1049<br />Kirsten Flipkens ranking no. 1076 <hr

Ok, that's 6 players. Who will the other 2 be?? And is Laurence Courtois playing? They say that the main draw wild cards are Els Callens, Laurence Courtois and Elke Clijsters (...)!

What a weird choice. If I could give the wild cards I'd give them to Callens, Maes & Butkiewicz!

What are your wishes for this tournament? I'm hoping for a Belgian final and some surprises by the Belgian talents such as Flipkens, Maes etc.

Can't wait!

Go Belgian Babes!!!! <img src="graemlins/bounce.gif" border="0" alt="[Bounce]" /> <img src="graemlins/bounce.gif" border="0" alt="[Bounce]" /> <img src="graemlins/bounce.gif" border="0" alt="[Bounce]" />

 

[Cookie]

I can't wait either ! I'm gonna be there on quite a lot of days.<br />Teletext says there will be also one top 3 player<br />playing, so some more competition for our Belgian babes !<br />Also 5000 tickets for the final have already been<br />sold.

 

[tfannis]

I bought two tickets for the final, but they haven't arrived yet <img src="graemlins/firey.gif" border="0" alt="[Fiery]" /> <br />Did you guys buy your tickets at the tele ticketservice. How long did it take to get them, once you payed?

 

[Verve]

Come on now Bram! I think it's quite logical that you give two wildcards to 2 persons who were in the winning Fed Cup team of your own country! Okay, maybe they didn't have to do very much with Kim and Justine playing so awesome, but I think they really deserve this.

I'm sure this'll be a GREAT tournament! <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

<br />Good luck to ALL the Belgian Babes! <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> Go girls!!! <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0">

 

[Cookie]

I ordered my tickets only 2 days ago at tele ticket service, but from last time with the Brilliant Game, I remember it took a while so I<br />won't worry yet.

[ December 19, 2001: Message edited by: Cookie ]</p>

 

[tfannis]

Thanx for the response, Cookie. <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

 

[karma]

Hi,<br />I would really like to order tickets. Can anybody give me the url of the website, so I can go and see for myself?<br />thanks

 

[The Crow]

An!!! <img src="graemlins/wavey.gif" border="0" alt="[Wavey]" />

Long time no see

Here's the website<a href="http://www.sport24.be/diamondgames/selectlang.html" target="_blank">Diamond games</a>

 

[tfannis]

You can also go to http://www.teleticketservice.com

On the side of the Diamond Games is an interview with Kim!!!!!!! <img src="graemlins/bounce.gif" border="0" alt="[Bounce]" /> <img src="graemlins/bounce.gif" border="0" alt="[Bounce]" /> <img src="graemlins/bounce.gif" border="0" alt="[Bounce]" /> <br />She trained a lot and she says she feels fit!! <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0">

 

[tfannis]

Ive never been able to post a link <img src="graemlins/firey.gif" border="0" alt="[Fiery]" /> <img src="mad.gif" border="0"> <br />How do I have to do that? <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

 

[Brαm]

Well Verve, I think it's quite unlogical to give a wild card to a retired player and to a mediocre junior player who's ranked +/- 700 <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

Butkiewicz and Maes would be a better choice than Courtois and Elke, I think!

 

[per4ever]

<a href="http://www.teleticketservice.com" target="_blank">teleticketservice</a>

just click on the URL button when you post a message that's the easy way...

 

[The Crow]

I agree with you Bram. But yeah if you're called Clijsters ranking doesn't matter <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">

 

[Justinator]

I also agree with Bram, Maes and Butkiewicz deserve it more.

I'm going the first four days, day and evening sessions.

 

[The Crow]

Err and I don't understand... Didn't Laurence quit? <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

 

[Justinator]

It's not really sure yet if Laurence is playing, I don't think she has accepted the WC yet.<br />To be honest I don't really think she will play and Maes will get the WC.

 

[Brαm]

It's really unfair to the other players that Elke (wh hasn't had any good results so far) gets a wild card. Ok, she IS Kim's sister but still it's a weird choice.

I don't understand why they give Laurence a wild card!! She's retired!<br />After her retirement she said she would play interclubs, train with pro players (as a sparring partner) and play at the Belgian Championships.<br />She didn't say anything about Antwerp!

Does any1 know who the other 2 Belgian players are who will participate at the Pre-qualifying tournament? I hope it's Debbrichje Feys or Jessie De Vries!

What is Stéphanie De Villé doing on that list?? Gosh has she retired or not? She hasn't play in 9 months so why would she bother to play pre-qualis in Antwerp? Maybe Daphne & Nancy can play there too... <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">

Anyways, go Belgian Babes!!!!!!

 

[The Crow]

And Sabine and Domi <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

 

[Cookie]

Lol @ The Crow <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0">

I'll be there for the semi's and the final and<br />probably on 1 or 2 weekdays as well, depends on who's playing.

 

[Brαm]

I just read on the sport24.be Board that Laurence is pregnant!!

The baby is expected to be born in July!!<br />So I guess that Laurence will not play in Antwerp...