European Open To Host Guinness World Record Attempt For Charity

The European Open, an ATP World Tour 250 event set in Antwerp, Belgium, will be promoting a Guiness World Record attempt for a good cause. Maxime Braeckman, former coach of ATP World Tour player Xavier Malisse and WTA players Kim Clijsters and Kirsten Flipkens, will play 37 matches in a row in an effort to raise € 25,000 for the charity SOS Children’s Villages and to promote the sport of tennis in Belgium. SOS Children’s Villages is the tournament’s official charity and Clijsters is an ambassador for the organisation.

Braeckman, currently coaching at the Kim Clijsters Academy in Bree, Belgium, will play 37 best-of-three matches in a row. The current Guinness World Record was set by Mike Mitchell of Great Britain, who played 36 matches over 34 hours last year. The first match will begin in the morning of Saturday 8 October on a practice court next to the Antwerp Central station, in the middle of the city. Proceeds from the event will fund the construction of a new multi-sport court in Trjavna, Bulgaria, which will serve over 100 children living in the area.

The inaugural edition of the European Open will take place from 17 to 23 October. ATP World Tour stars David Goffin, Richard Gasquet and David Ferrer will headline the event. #NextGen stars Borna Coric and Taylor Fritz are also slated to play.