South African tennis player
Amanda Coetzer Country (sports) South AfricaResidence Hoopstad Born (1971-10-22 ) 22 October 1971 (age 52) Hoopstad , South AfricaHeight 1.58 m (5 ft 2 in) Turned pro January 1988 Retired June 2004 Plays Right-handed (two-handed backhand) Prize money $5,594,821 Career record 568–337 (62.8%) Career titles 9 Highest ranking No. 3 (3 November 1997) Australian Open SF (1996 , 1997 ) French Open SF (1997 ) Wimbledon 4R (1994 ) US Open QF (1994 , 1996 , 1998 ) Career record 269–219 Career titles 9 Highest ranking No. 15 (27 September 1993) Australian Open QF (2002 ) French Open SF (1993 , 1994 ) Wimbledon 3R (1998 , 2001 ) US Open F (1993 ) Career record 18–18 Australian Open 2R (1995 , 2001 ) French Open QF (1994 ) Wimbledon QF (2000 ) US Open 2R (1992 , 1993 ) Fed Cup QF (1995 , 1996 ), record 31–13 Hopman Cup W (2000 )
Amanda Coetzer (born 22 October 1971, in Hoopstad ) is a South African former professional tennis player. Coetzer finished in the WTA rankings top 20 for ten consecutive seasons (1992–2001), peaking at world No. 3. She reached three Grand Slam semifinals (Australian Open 1996 and 1997 , French Open 1997) and one Grand Slam doubles final (US Open 1993 ). Coetzer earned a reputation for regularly beating players who were ranked higher than her. By virtue of scoring so many upset wins in spite of her five-foot-two (1.58m) stature, she gained the nickname: "The Little Assassin".[1]
Personal life [ edit ]
Coetzer was born in Hoopstad, South Africa, to Nico and Suska Coetzer. She started playing tennis at the age of six. During her career, she resided primarily in Hilton Head, South Carolina and was coached by Gavin Hopper, later by Lori McNeil . As a photographer's model she appeared as a Sunshine Girl in the Canadian Sun newspaper chain. She is married to the Hollywood film producer Arnon Milchan .[2] They have two children, Shimon (born 2009) and Olivia (born 2011).[3]
In 1998, Coetzer was featured in All Star Tennis '99 , a tennis video game released on PlayStation and Nintendo 64 .[4]
Coetzer's breakthrough year was in 1992. She beat world No. 3, Gabriela Sabatini , in Boca Raton , and Jennifer Capriati at the Italian Open , entering into the top 20 in August.
In 1993, Coetzer won her first WTA Tour title in Melbourne, defeating Naoko Sawamatsu in the final, and reached the final of the US Open women's doubles with Inés Gorrochategui .
At the Canada Masters in 1995, Coetzer defeated three players ranked in the world's top 5 – Steffi Graf (No. 1), Jana Novotná (No. 4) and Mary Pierce (No. 5) – before finally losing to Monica Seles in the final. The defeat of Graf ended a 32-match winning-streak for the German. At the end of the year, Coetzer was awarded the WTA Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award (voted for by other players).
At the Australian Open in 1996, Coetzer became the first South African woman in the Open Era to reach a Grand Slam semifinal, where she lost in three sets to Anke Huber .
In 1997, she reached the Australian Open semifinals for the second consecutive year, defeating world No. 1, Steffi Graf, in the fourth round. She beat Graf for a second time that year at the German Open in May (inflicting Graf's worst-ever loss: 6–0, 6–1 in just 56 minutes), and then, in the quarterfinals of the French Open, she defeated Graf yet again to become one of only four to defeat her more than once in Grand Slam matches. Coetzer lost in the French Open semifinals to eventual champion Iva Majoli . She broke into the top 10 in June and top 5 in August, and in Leipzig Coetzer beat Martina Hingis , who by then had taken over the world No. 1 ranking. Coetzer won two singles titles that year – in Budapest and Luxembourg , reached 15 semifinals (or better) in total and was awarded the Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award for a second time, the Most Improved Player and Diamond Aces awards (all WTA).
Coetzer won the biggest title of her career in 1998, at the Charleston Open . She also beat Conchita Martínez on her way to a third quarterfinals showing at the US Open .
In 1999, Coetzer defeated world No. 1, Lindsay Davenport , and world No. 4, Monica Seles , on her way to the final of Tokyo , thereby becoming the only player to ever defeat Graf, Hingis and Davenport while they were ranked number one.
Coetzer teamed-up with Wayne Ferreira to win the 2000 Hopman Cup for South Africa. She beat world No. 3, Venus Williams , in Hamburg and also reached the final of the German Open in Berlin.
In 2001, she qualified for her ninth consecutive Year-end championships , and finished her tenth consecutive season in the world's top 20.
Coetzer retired in 2004. Overall, she won 18 WTA tournament titles, nine in singles and nine in doubles. Her final singles title was won in Acapulco in 2003, and her career prize-money earnings totalled $6 million.
Grand Slam finals [ edit ]
Doubles: 1 runner–up [ edit ]
WTA career finals [ edit ]
Singles: 21 (9 titles, 12 runner-ups) [ edit ]
Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (0–0)
Tier I (1–3)
Tier II (1–5)
Tier III, IV & V (7–4)
Finals by surface
Hard (2–6)
Grass (0–0)
Clay (6–3)
Carpet (1–3)
Result
No.
Date
Tournament
Surface
Opponent
Score
Loss
1.
Oct 1991
Puerto Rico Open
Hard
Julie Halard
5–7, 5–7
Win
1.
Jan 1993
Melbourne Open, Australia
Hard
Naoko Sawamatsu
6–2, 6–3
Loss
2.
Feb 1993
Indian Wells Masters , United States
Hard
Mary Joe Fernández
6–3, 1–6, 6–7(6–8)
Win
2.
Sep 1993
International Championships Tokyo
Hard
Kimiko Date
6–3, 6–2
Loss
3.
Feb 1994
Indian Wells Masters, U.S.
Hard
Steffi Graf
0–6, 4–6
Win
3.
May 1994
Prague Open , Czech Republic
Clay
Åsa Carlsson
6–1, 7–6(16–14)
Loss
4.
Aug 1995
Canadian Open
Hard
Monica Seles
0–6, 1–6
Loss
5.
Oct 1995
Brighton International , England
Carpet (i)
Mary Joe Fernández
4–6, 5–7
Loss
6.
Feb 1996
Oklahoma City Cup , U.S.
Hard (i)
Brenda Schultz-McCarthy
3–6, 2–6
Win
4.
Apr 1997
Budapest Grand Prix , Hungary
Clay
Sabine Appelmans
6–1, 6–3
Loss
7.
Sep 1997
Sparkassen Cup Leipzig , Germany
Carpet (i)
Jana Novotná
2–6, 6–4, 3–6
Win
5.
Oct 1997
Luxembourg Open
Carpet (i)
Barbara Paulus
6–4, 3–6, 7–5
Win
6.
Mar 1998
Family Circle Cup , U.S.
Clay
Irina Spîrlea
6–3, 6–4
Loss
8.
Feb 1999
Pan Pacific Open , Japan
Carpet (i)
Martina Hingis
2–6, 1–6
Loss
9.
Feb 1999
Oklahoma City Cup, U.S.
Hard (i)
Venus Williams
4–6, 0–6
Loss
10.
May 2000
German Open
Clay
Conchita Martínez
1–6, 2–6
Win
7.
May 2000
Belgian Open
Clay
Cristina Torrens Valero
4–6, 6–2, 6–3
Win
8.
Feb 2001
Mexican Open
Clay
Elena Dementieva
2–6, 6–1, 6–2
Loss
11.
Apr 2001
Amelia Island Championships , U.S.
Clay
Amélie Mauresmo
4–6, 5–7
Loss
12.
Feb 2003
Memphis Championships , U.S.
Clay
Lisa Raymond
3–6, 2–6
Win
9.
Feb 2003
Mexican Open
Clay
Mariana Díaz Oliva
7–5, 6–3
Doubles: 23 (9 titles, 14 runner-ups) [ edit ]
Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (0–1)
Tier I (1–2)
Tier II (3–7)
Tier III, IV & V (5–4)
Finals by surface
Hard (4–6)
Grass (0–0)
Clay (5–7)
Carpet (0–1)
Result
No.
Date
Tournament
Surface
Partner
Opponents
Score
Win
1.
Apr 1992
Taranto Trophy , Italy
Clay
Inés Gorrochategui
Rachel McQuillan Radka Zrubáková
4–6, 6–3, 7–6(0)
Loss
1.
Jul 1992
Austrian Open
Clay
Wiltrud Probst
Alexia Dechaume Florencia Labat
3–6, 3–6
Loss
2.
Sep 1992
Taipei Championship , Taiwan
Hard
Cammy MacGregor
Jo-Anne Faull Julie Richardson
6–3, 3–6, 2–6
Win
2.
Oct 1992
Puerto Rico Open
Hard
Elna Reinach
Gigi Fernández Kathy Rinaldi
6–2, 4–6, 6–2
Loss
3.
Apr 1993
Amelia Island Championships , U.S.
Clay
Inés Gorrochategui
Manuela Maleeva-Fragniere Leila Meskhi
6–3, 3–6, 4–6
Loss
4.
Aug 1993
US Open
Hard
Inés Gorrochategui
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Helena Suková
4–6, 2–6
Loss
5.
Sep 1993
Tokyo International Championships , Japan
Hard
Linda Wild
Lisa Raymond Chanda Rubin
4–6, 1–6
Loss
6.
Nov 1993
San Jose Open , United States
Carpet (i)
Inés Gorrochategui
Patty Fendick Meredith McGrath
2–6, 0–6
Loss
7.
Apr 1994
Amelia Island Championships, U.S.
Clay
Inés Gorrochategui
Larisa Neiland Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
2–6, 7–6(6) , 4–6
Win
3.
May 1994
Prague Open , Czech Republic
Clay
Linda Wild
Kristie Boogert Laura Golarsa
6–4, 3–6, 6–2
Win
4.
Apr 1995
Amelia Island Championships, U.S.
Clay
Inés Gorrochategui
Nicole Arendt Manon Bollegraf
6–2, 3–6, 6–2
Win
5.
May 1995
German Open
Clay
Inés Gorrochategui
Larisa Neiland Gabriela Sabatini
4–6, 7–6(3) , 6–2
Loss
8.
Sep 1995
Tokyo International Championships
Hard
Linda Wild
Lindsay Davenport Mary Joe Fernández
3–6, 2–6
Win
6.
Sep 1996
Tokyo International Championships
Hard
Mary Pierce
Park Sung-hee Wang Shi-ting
6–1, 7–6(5)
Win
7.
Apr 1997
Budapest Grand Prix , Hungary
Clay
Alexandra Fusai
Eva Martincová Elena Wagner
6–3, 6–1
Loss
9.
May 1998
Italian Open
Clay
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
Virginia Ruano Pascual Paola Suárez
6–7(1) , 4–6
Loss
10.
Feb 1999
U.S. Indoor Championships
Hard (i)
Jessica Steck
Lisa Raymond Rennae Stubbs
3–6, 4–6
Loss
11.
Apr 1999
Barclay Cup Hamburg , Germany
Clay
Jana Novotná
Larisa Neiland Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
2–6, 1–6
Loss
12.
Sep 1999
Tokyo Princess Cup , Japan
Hard
Jelena Dokic
Conchita Martínez Patricia Tarabini
7–6(5) , 4–6, 2–6
Loss
13.
May 2000
German Open
Clay
Corina Morariu
Conchita Martínez Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
6–3, 2–6, 6–7(7)
Win
8.
Feb 2001
U.S. Indoor Championships
Hard (i)
Lori McNeil
Janet Lee Wynne Prakusya
6–3, 2–6, 6–0
Loss
14.
May 2001
Internationaux de Strasbourg , France
Clay
Lori McNeil
Silvia Farina Elia Iroda Tulyaganova
1–6, 6–7(0)
Win
9.
Sep 2001
Brasil Open
Hard
Lori McNeil
Nicole Arendt Patricia Tarabini
6–7(8) , 6–2, 6–4
Grand Slam singles performance timeline [ edit ]
Key
W
F
SF
QF
#R
RR
Q#
P#
DNQ
A
Z#
PO
G
S
B
NMS
NTI
P
NH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (P#) preliminary round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (Z#) Davis/Fed Cup Zonal Group (with number indication) or (PO) play-off; (G) gold, (S) silver or (B) bronze Olympic/Paralympic medal; (NMS) not a Masters tournament; (NTI) not a Tier I tournament; (P) postponed; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record; .
Best Grand Slam results details [ edit ]
Australian Open
1996 Australian Open (16th Seed)
Round
Opponent
Score
1R
Melanie Schnell
6–2, 6–2
2R
Sabine Hack
6–1, 6–1
3R
Rika Hiraki (Q)
6–3, 6–1
4R
Elena Likhovtseva
6–3, 6–3
QF
Martina Hingis
7–5, 4–6, 6–1
SF
Anke Huber (8)
6–4, 4–6, 2–6
1997 Australian Open (12th Seed)
Round
Opponent
Score
1R
Anna Kournikova
6–2, 6–2
2R
Jana Kandarr
6–1, 7–6(7–4)
3R
Magüi Serna (Q)
6–3, 6–2
4R
Steffi Graf (1)
6–2, 7–5
QF
Kimberly Po
6–4, 6–1
SF
Mary Pierce
5–7, 1–6
US Open
1994 US Open (11th Seed)
Round
Opponent
Score
1R
Petra Ritter
6–1, 7–6
2R
Eugenia Maniokova
6–2, 6–0
3R
Mariaan de Swardt (Q)
6–1, 6–3
4R
Mana Endo
6–3, 6–0
QF
Steffi Graf (1)
0–6, 2–6
1996 US Open
Round
Opponent
Score
1R
Anke Huber (6)
6–1, 2–6, 6–2
2R
Mariaan de Swardt
6–2, 7–5
3R
Irina Spîrlea
7–6, 7–5
4R
Lisa Raymond
6–4, 6–1
QF
Monica Seles (2)
0–6, 3–6
1998 US Open (13th Seed)
Round
Opponent
Score
1R
Sandra Cacic
6–1, 7–6(7–3)
2R
Raluca Sandu (Q)
6–0, 6–2
3R
Barbara Schett
3–6, 6–0, 6–3
4R
Conchita Martínez (7)
6–4, 4–6, 6–2
QF
Lindsay Davenport (2)
0–6, 4–6
Wins over top 10 players [ edit ]
Season
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Total
Wins
2
3
2
4
2
9
2
3
4
1
1
34
#
Player
Rank
Event
Surface
Rd
Score
Coetzer Rank
1992
1.
Gabriela Sabatini
3
Virginia Slims of Florida , U.S.
Hard
Quarterfinal
4–6, 6–1, 6–2
61
2.
Jennifer Capriati
6
Italian Open
Clay
3R
6–1, 3–6, 6–4
31
1993
3.
Jennifer Capriati
6
Amelia Island , U.S.
Hard
2R
6–2, 1–6, 6–4
15
4.
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
2
Tokyo , Japan
Hard
Semifinal
6–3, 6–4
17
5.
Mary Joe Fernández
6
WTA Tour Championships
Carpet (i)
1R
6–3, 6–4
16
1994
6.
Mary Joe Fernández
7
Evert Cup , U.S.
Hard
Quarterfinal
6–2, 2–6, 7–6(4)
16
7.
Kimiko Date
6
French Open
Clay
1R
6–2, 6–1
18
1995
8.
Steffi Graf
1
Canadian Open
Hard
2R
3–6, 6–2, 7–6(6)
27
9.
Mary Pierce
5
Canadian Open
Hard
Quarterfinal
6–4, 5–7, 6–0
27
10.
Jana Novotná
4
Canadian Open
Hard
Semifinal
6–4, 6–3
27
11.
Magdalena Maleeva
8
Brighton , UK
Carpet
Semifinal
6–3, 6–3
23
1996
12.
Chanda Rubin
10
Oklahoma City , U.S.
Hard
Semifinal
6–2, 2–6, 7–6(4)
17
13.
Anke Huber
5
US Open
Hard
1R
6–1, 2–6, 6–2
17
1997
14.
Steffi Graf
1
Australian Open
Hard
4R
6–2, 7–5
14
15.
Irina Spîrlea
10
Tokyo , Japan
Carpet
2R
6–4, 2–6, 6–4
12
16.
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
4
Family Circle Cup , U.S.
Clay
3R
6–2, 5–7, 6–0
15
17.
Jana Novotná
4
Amelia Island , U.S.
Clay
3R
6–2, 1–6, 6–1
14
18.
Steffi Graf
2
German Open
Clay
Quarterfinal
6–0, 6–1
10
19.
Conchita Martínez
7
French Open
Clay
4R
6(4) –7, 6–4, 6–3
11
20.
Steffi Graf
2
French Open
Clay
Quarterfinals
6–1, 6–4
11
21.
Jana Novotná
3
New Haven Open , U.S.
Hard
Quarterfinal
1–6, 6–3, 6–1
5
22.
Martina Hingis
1
Leipzig Cup , Germany
Carpet
Semifinal
6–4, 4–6, 7–6(3)
6
1998
23.
Conchita Martínez
7
US Open
Hard
4R
6–4, 4–6, 6–2
11
24.
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
4
Philadelphia , U.S.
Hard
2R
6–4, 6–1
15
1999
25.
Lindsay Davenport
1
Tokyo , Japan
Carpet
Quarterfinal
2–6, 6–4, 6–3
15
26.
Monica Seles
4
Tokyo, Japan
Carpet
Semifinal
6–4, 6–2
15
27.
Mary Pierce
8
Miami Open , U.S.
Hard
3R
6–1, 4–2(ret)
9
2000
28.
Conchita Martínez
7
Key Biscayne , U.S.
Hard
3R
6–1, 6–2
20
29.
Venus Williams
3
Hamburg , Germany
Clay
Quarterfinal
6–3, 6–4
18
30.
Julie Halard-Decugis
10
Hamburg, Germany
Clay
3R
6–2, 6–2
16
31.
Anke Huber
10
New Haven , U.S.
Hard
Quarterfinal
7–6(3) , 6–1
14
2001
32.
Elena Dementieva
10
Acapulco , Mexico
Clay
Final
2–6, 6–1, 6–2
11
2002
33.
Jelena Dokic
5
Moscow , Russia
Carpet (i)
3R
7–6(3) , 3–6, 6–1
26
2003
34.
Daniela Hantuchová
5
Indian Wells , U.S.
Carpet (i)
3R
6–4, 6–4
19
Longest winning streaks [ edit ]
First 8–match singles winning streak (1992) [ edit ]
#
Tournament
Category
Start date
Surface
Rd
Opponent
Rank
Score
–
Family Circle Cup , United States
Tier I
30 March 1992
Clay
3R
Gabriela Sabatini (1)
No. 3
5–7, 4–6
No. 35
1
Fed Cup Europe/Africa Zone , Greece
Team event
13 April 1992
Clay
-
Anne Kremer
No. NR
6–0, 6–0
No. 35
2
-
Helene Holter
No. 828
6–0, 6–0
3
-
Gina Niland
No. 514
6–1, 6–1
4
Fed Cup Europe/Africa Zone , Greece
-
Ljudmila Pavlov
No. NR
6–3, 6–0
5
-
Barbara Mulej
No. 141
6–4, 4–6, 6–1
6
-
Nadin Ercegović
No. 131
7–5, 4–6, 6–2
7
Ilva Trophy , Italy
Tier V
27 April 1992
Clay
1R
Cristina Salvi (WC)
No. 180
6–3, 6–2
No. 32
8
2R
Nathalie Herreman
No. 115
4–6, 6–0, 7–5
–
QF
Linda Ferrando
No. 95
4–6, 2–6
Second 8–match singles winning streak (1994) [ edit ]
#
Tournament
Category
Start date
Surface
Rd
Opponent
Rank
Score
–
Italian Open , Italy
Tier I
2 May 1994
Clay
2R
Radka Zrubáková (Q)
No. 168
0–6, 5–7
No. 18
1
BVV Prague Open , Czech Republic
Tier IV
9 May 1994
Clay
1R
Eva Martincová
No. 122
6–3, 6–3
No. 18
2
2R
Janette Husárová
No. 93
6–2, 6–4
3
QF
Barbara Schett (8)
No. 82
6–3, 6–1
4
SF
Paola Suárez (Q)
No. 154
7–5, 6–2
5
F
Åsa Carlsson
No. 84
6–1, 7–6(16–14)
6
French Open , France
Grand Slam
23 May 1994
Clay
1R
Kimiko Date (6)
No. 6
6–2, 6–1
No. 18
7
2R
Radka Bobková
No. 77
6–4, 6–4
8
3R
Marketa Kochta
No. 55
6–0, 6–3
–
4R
Mary Pierce (12)
No. 12
1–6, 1–6
Third 8–match singles winning streak (1997) [ edit ]
#
Tournament
Category
Start date
Surface
Rd
Opponent
Rank
Score
–
Amelia Island Championships , United States
Tier II
7 April 1997
Clay
SF
Lindsay Davenport (6)
No. 8
5–7, 2–6
No. 14
1
Budapest Grand Prix , Hungary
Tier IV
21 April 1997
Clay
1R
Andrea Temesvári (WC)
No. 207
7–6, 6–2
No. 12
2
2R
Marion Maruska
No. 89
6–0, 6–4
3
QF
Elena Wagner
No. 119
6–1, 6–7, 6–2
4
SF
Henrieta Nagyová (7)
No. 34
6–7, 6–1, 6–0
5
F
Sabine Appelmans (4)
No. 23
6–1, 6–3
6
Croatian Bol Ladies Open , Croatia
Tier IV
28 April 1997
Clay
1R
Melanie Schnell (LL)
No. 160
6–1, 6–2
No. 10
7
2R
Kristina Brandi
No. 89
2–6, 6–0, 6–3
8
QF
Sarah Pitkowski
No. 60
6–4, 7–6
–
SF
Mirjana Lučić (Q)
No. NR
4–6, 3–6
Fourth 8–match singles winning streak (1998) [ edit ]
#
Tournament
Category
Start date
Surface
Rd
Opponent
Rank
Score
–
Lipton Championships , United States
Tier I
16 March 1998
Hard
4R
Silvia Farina (29)
No. 31
7–6, 2–6, 1–6
No. 5
–
Family Circle Cup , United States
Tier I
30 March 1998
Clay
1R
bye
No. 4
1
2R
Silvia Farina
No. 28
6–4, 6–3
2
3R
Virginia Ruano Pascual
No. 49
6–0, 6–4
3
QF
Andrea Glass (Q)
No. 94
4–6, 7–6 ret.
4
SF
Lisa Raymond (15)
No. 19
6–4, 6–1
5
F
Irina Spîrlea (9)
No. 12
6–3, 6–4
–
Amelia Island Championships , United States
Tier II
6 April 1998
Clay
1R
bye
No. 4
6
2R
Magüi Serna
No. 41
6–3, 6–3
7
3R
Ruxandra Dragomir (11)
No. 22
6–4, 6–7, 6–0
8
QF
Tara Snyder (WC)
No. 74
6–4, 6–4
–
SF
Conchita Martínez (6)
No. 9
4–6, 0–6
References [ edit ]
External links [ edit ]