An-Sophie's Tennishome on the Net

My biography

The Early Years...

In April 1998, I asked my mom and dad if I could play tennis. I had just turned four. My first tennisclub was T.C. RACSO, in my hometown Destelbergen. After one year of playing just an hour a week, I was selected to play the next year with two girls, two years older than myself. That would help me a whole lot. So, in 1999 I played 2 hours a week, in 2000 3 hours a week.

I played my first official match when I was six. And won my first tournament when I had turned seven. That same year, 2001, I also became Flemish Champion (7 and 8 year olds) for the first time. I would do that again in 2002, 2004, 2007 and 2008 in different agegroups.

2004 was also the year I was the Belgian Champion (10 year olds). I repeated that twice, in 2006 (12 year olds) and 2008 (14 year olds).

In September 2003 I entered the Flemish tennisschool in Wilrijk, the same tennisschool Kim Clijsters and Sabine Appelmans (amongst many other good players) attended.

When I was 12, in 2006, I won my first ETA tournament under 14, in Uccle, Belgium.

More Recently...

I succeeded in winning the "Antwerp Diamond Trophy", twice (in 2007 and 2008).

My highest ranking in ETA under 14 was 7th place, in 2007.

That year I also gathered my first ITF under 18 ranking points. That was in Malta, where together with Sofie Oyen, we won the ITF G5 doubles tournament. At the end of 2007 I was ranked 1844th in ITF under 18.

The first tournament in ITF under 18 - a G4 - I won in Hamburg (D), in January 2007. I was still 13 then. Later on I won another ITF G4 in Notthingham (UK). And a few other good results that year allowed me to reach the 132nd place in the ITF under 18 ranking. I was also very pleased to become a (Belgian) "A"-player in 2008!

In 2007 I played as "first year girl" the finals of the International Nike Junior Tour, in Turin, Italy. I lost against the number 1 Slovak girl. But the next year, I won this tournament in Florida, and it was again against a girl from Slovakia. This was a great tournament! (thanks Nike!)

2009 Highlights...

My best memory of this year was participating in the Fed Cup against Canada. To be a part of the national Belgian team at such a young age was just GREAT! I even got to play and train with Kim Clijsters that week!

In July 2009 I was the first Belgian girl to bring home not one, but two gold (tennis)medals (singles, and doubles with Elke Lemmens) from the Youth Olympics in Tampere, Finland.

In November I was elected "Tennisbelofte of the year 2009 in Flanders" (most promising young female player) which was the cherry on my 2009-cake!

I am ranked 898th WTA (singles, 13 th Belgian player) and 630th in doubles (6th Belgian player).

2010 started just great and ended even better...

My ranking with the ITF juniors under 18 is improving fast. I was 61st on January 1st, 43rd a week later, another week later 22nd, and now 11th. ready to move into the top 10! Good prospects.

In Singapore during the Youth Olympics I got a bronze medal for doubles (with Timea Babos).

I was in November elected "Tennisbelofte of the year 2010 in Flanders".

My best ranking in 2009 was 9th with the ITFu18.

2011 starts just great...

Winning the Casablanca Cup (a GA in Mexico) ànd the Copacafe (a G1 in Costa Rica, which I on for the second time in a row), brought me into 3rd position, in the juniors under 18 ranking. And the year isn't even 10 days old yet. I am looking forward to Australia now...