TENNIS in DEPTH.

Belgium will launch its presidency of the European Union in July with a clash between Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin that could beat the world record for the most spectators at a tennis match.

The pair, who have both returned to the WTA Tour in the last year after periods in retirement, will headline the “Best of Belgium” event at the King Baudouin stadium in Brussels on July 8.

The current record is the 30,492 spectators who watched the “Battle of the Sexes” clash between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs in Houston in 1973.

The Belgium match could be watched by 40,000 people, with 34,000 tickets to be sold to the public and 6,000 invited guests.

Henin and Clijsters are currently tied at 12 wins each from their 24 meetings, with the latter having won their two most recent matches.

Henin welcomed the initiative, saying: “Kim and I both like challenges. Now together we can break this record, we will certainly go for it.”

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