Proximus Diamond Games

'You've done it all, never had a high hat, because you tennis is just a game. Kim Clijsters thank you very much!' After the final, Belgian top band Clouseau honoured the tennis player on her farewell tour. Between her tears, Kim thanked everybody for their continuous support over the years.

Kim Clijsters. (picture reporters)

On Sunday there were only winners at the Antwerp Sportpaleis. Amélie Mauresmo won her diamond racket, but Kim Clijsters also won something: the Belgian top player received a round of applaus which lasted several mintues and that only was the beginning.

Clouseau sang an edited version of Domino. "We always will be friends, so go and make children" (it rhymes in Dutch, ed.), was one of the changes. A clear hint for Kim and her future husband Brian Lynch.

"I have been a Clouseau fan since I was a kid and Domino absolutely is my favourite song", Kim told Koen and Kris, and the 15,000 people in the Antwerp Sportpaleis. Clouseau also sang a song by Willy Sommers' Zeven anjers, zeven rozen and offered Kim fourteen beautiful bunches of flowers.

Clijsters by then already was in tears and she didn't know who to thank first for all the great moments in her. Parent, grandparent, sister, organising director and friend Bob Verbeeck, Marc Herremans, Wim Fisette, Caroline Maes...

Kim Clijsters: 'Those beautiful memories are worth so much more to me than all the trophies I have in my cupboard.'

"But of course I would like to thank all the fans. All the letters, flowers and cards you have sent me throughout the years mean a lot to me. You have given me back so much", Kim said. "'Those beautiful memories are worth so much more to me than all the trophies I have in my cupboard."

Clijsters, becoming so emotional she could hardly speak anymore, wanted to conclude when she realized she was forgetting someone. "Oh yes, Brian! Such a pity he had to play a basketball match this afternoon. But he is a great guy and I am really looking forward to our marriage and maybe the kids will come quickly as well!"

A basket ball player or a tennis player? We might find out within another 20 years at the Antwerp Sportpaleis...

Before the start of the final at the Proximus Diamond Games Marc Herremans received the Lifetime Achievement Award. During the pre-final event there also was an exhibition match wheelchair tennis between Brigitte Ameryckx and Annick Sevenans.

With their respective 13th and 14th place Brigitte Ameryckx and Annick Sevenans belong to the world's best in wheelchair tennis. The match (which ended in 1-1 after two games) was part of the project Siemens setup ("Siemens has a heart for wheelchair tennis") together with To Walk Again, the Marc Herremans foundation.

Besides this exhibition match Siemens also organised an auction for the benefit wheelchair tennis. During every evening session of the Proximus Diamond Games an item or outfit of one of the present top players was auctioned. The total amount was 7985 euro.

After the wheelchair tennis, Marc Herremans received a Lifetime Achievement Award. He already earned this trophy last year, but hadn't received it yet. On Sunday, right before the final he received the trophy from Rik Lamoral, the chairman of the Union of Belgian Sports Journalists.

During the ceremony there was some focus as well for 'To walk again', the movie director Stijn Coninx made about the former triathlete and which will run in cinemas from 25 April onwards.