The Bell Challenge is a WTA Tour Tier III tennis tournament held in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada since 1993. The tournament is played on indoor hardcourts.
In 1997, Dutchwoman Brenda Schultz-McCarthy defeated Belgian Dominique Van Roost 6-4, 6-7(4), 7-5, and the following year, American Tara Snyder won her first WTA Tour title with a hard fought 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(6) victory over fellow American and former top 10 player Chanda Rubin. Snyder saved two match points during the match. In 2006, top-seed and 2007 Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli of France defeated Russian Olga Poutchkova 6-0, 6-0, the first double bagel in a WTA Tour final for 13 years.
Players who have won the event and gone on to win Grand Slam titles include 1999 champion Jennifer Capriati and 2003 champion Maria Sharapova, who both went on to become World No. 1.
American Lindsay Davenport, a three-time Grand Slam champion, won the event in 2007, in only her third event after returning to the tour after giving birth to her son.
Famous quotes containing the words bell and/or challenge:
“You owe me ten shillings,
Say the bells of St. Helen’s.
When will you pay me?
Say the bells of Old Bailey.
When I grow rich,
Say the bells of Shoreditch.
Pray when will that be?
Say the bells of Stepney.
I am sure I don’t know,
Says the great bell of Bow.”
—Unknown. The Bells of London (l. 13–22)
“Men speak of natural rights, but I challenge any one to show where in nature any rights existed or were recognized until there was established for their declaration and protection a duly promulgated body of corresponding laws.”
—Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933)