Belgium ditches Hasselt cup after WTA rule change

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The Hasselt Cup will disappear from the women's tennis calendar after the WTA relaxed its rules on the number of events players must attend, making it unlikely the Belgian tournament would attract top names in future. "It's no longer being organised because of the new regulation from the WTA which makes it very difficult to attract top players to tier three tournaments and no longer financially viable," Hasselt Cup tournament director Bob Verbeek said. Last Wednesday the WTA Tour Board changed rules for 2007, including reducing the number of events that must be attended from 13 to 12, to ensure that more top players attend the Tour's most important events and to cut injury and fatigue. World number one Justine Henin-Hardenne has been troubled with a knee injury this season and had to abandon the Fed Cup giving Italy a victory by default. World number five Kim Clijsters, Henin's Belgian team mate, made her comeback at the Hasselt Cup earlier this month after a wrist injury. She retained the trophy with a 6-3 3-6 6-4 win over Estonian qualifier Kaia Kanepi.