As far as household tennis nations are concerned, Belgium does not exactly spring to mind.
Nevertheless, the country with a population of around 11 million people produced two of the most talented women to have ever played the game at the turn of the century.
Despite being compatriots, Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin shared a fiercely competitive rivalry over a 12-year professional period. From their first encounter in 1998 to their last in 2010, the Belgians met on 25 occasions, with Henin coming out on top 13-12.
Yet, as teenagers, the pair had to put their pursuit of individual glory aside to team up for Belgium's run to the final of the Fed Cup for the first time in the country's history 13 years ago today.
Six months earlier, Clijsters and Henin had met in the semi-finals of the French Open in Paris, with the former coming out on top.
However, there was no sign of any lingering animosity between the duo as they took on the Russians in Madrid. The USA were expected to be their opponents in the Spanish capital, but they pulled out on security grounds, which was thought to be the major contributing factor behind the low turnout of supporters.
On the court, Belgium blew the Russians away courtesy of their young pairing. Henin, 19, took just 50 minutes to dispose of Nadia Petrova 6-0 6-3 to put her country 1-0 up.
Next up was 18-year-old Clijsters, who won the opening set against Elena Dementieva in 14 minutes, before going on to wrap up the match and the title 6-0 6-4.
The Belgian pairing of Els Callens and Laurence Courtois lost the doubles encounter, but it mattered little because Henin and Clijsters had already done the damage.
"We were the favourites here but we had to prove it on the court and we did it. It's a great victory for a little country with two young players and a great team," said Henin.
The victory remains Belgium's only triumph on the Fed Cup stage.
Liam Apicella
