By Randy Walker

@TennisPublisher

The public address announcer at the Lexus Eastbourne Open enthusiastically exclaimed during the champions trophy part of the post-match ceremony that Zizou Bergs was the first Belgium player to ever win an ATP singles title on grass.

That is just the cherry on top of a summer sundae for the 27-year old Belgian whose 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 final-round win over Ugo Humbert gave him his first career ATP singles title.

Belgium is about the size of Maryland and has a population of about 12 million but has only had six other players earn ATP singles titles – except non on grass before Bergs.

Player ATP singles titles Years of titles Career note David Goffin 6 2014–2022 Belgium’s greatest men’s singles player; reached No. 7 in the ATP rankings and played the 2017 ATP Finals championship match. Xavier Malisse 3 2005–2007 Powerful shot-maker; reached a career-high No. 19 and was Belgium’s top male player before Goffin’s rise. Olivier Rochus 2 2000, 2006 The 5’6″ Belgian reached No. 24 in the world and won two ATP singles titles. Steve Darcis 2 2007, 2014 Won his first ATP title in Amersfoort in 2007 and was famous for his 2013 Wimbledon first-round upset of Rafael Nadal. Kristof Vliegen 1 2006 Reached a career-high No. 30 and captured one ATP singles title. Kimmer Coppejans 1 2015 Won his only ATP title at Casablanca in 2015.

The women from Belgum have fared better on grass, of course led by Justin Henin and Kim Clijsters.

Player Grass-court WTA singles titles Events won Notes Justine Henin 3 Eastbourne International (2006, 2007), Rosmalen Grass Court Championships (2001) Henin won 43 WTA singles titles overall and reached two Wimbledon finals (2001, 2006). Kim Clijsters 2 Wimbledon Championships (2003 doubles, not singles), and singles titles at Eastbourne (2005, 2006) Clijsters won 41 WTA singles titles overall and was a former world No. 1. Yanina Wickmayer 1 Libéma Open (2009) Won three WTA singles titles overall and reached the 2009 US Open semifinals.

The Eastbourne final was a “third time is a charm” result for the 27-year-old world No. 47.

 He reached his first ATP final in Auckland in 2025 and another final at ’s-Hertogenbosch, but both opportunities ended without a trophy.