Coetzer calls it quitsFri, 18 Jun 2004
After 16 years on the professional tennis circuit Amanda Coetzer has decided to call it day.
The 32-year-old South African was one of the most popular players on the women's tour, with not only the fans but also with her fellow players, who admired her working ethic and her never-say-die approach to the game.
It was this resolve which saw her rise to a career-high world ranking of three, silencing those detractors who said her size — 1.54m or five feet two inches in the old parlance — would stunt her ability.
"It's been an amazing journey for me," said Coetzer from the US.
"I've been fortunate to play the sport I love, to travel the world and to meet wonderful people along the way.
"I have many special memories to take with me and many people to thank for making the past 16 years so special — my family and friends, my coaches and advisors, my fellow players, the WTA, my sponsors and the tournament directors and staffs.
"Also to the thousands of fans both at home in South Africa and around the world, my sincere thanks for all their loyalty, support and continued encouragement. No matter what I may do in the future, I know that tennis will always be a part of my life."
Coetzer won nine singles titles and another nine doubles titles and there was not a player in the top 10 whom she did not beat at some stage of her career.
In 1997 she scored three wins over Steffi Graf, only one of six players to have done so in the same season, the others being Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, Gabriela Sabatini and Monica Seles.
And in Berlin that year, she gave Graf her biggest ever drubbing as a professional — beating the German 6-0 6-1 in just 56 minutes.
She reached three Grand Slam semifinals — the Australian Open in 1996 and 1997, and the French Open in 1997. It was her performance in Australia in 1997, where she beat Graf, which earned her the nickname "The Tiny Assassin" from the Australian media.
Former world number one Martina Hingis once declared that she hated playing Coetzer more than any other player. "Just when you think you've hit a winner, the ball comes back at you.....again, and again, and again," she said.
In 1997, Coetzer became the first player to win three WTA Tour awards in the same year — Most Improved Player, Diamond ACES and the Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award, which she won in 1995 as well. Tennis Magazine selected her as the Most Improved Female Player in 1992.
For 10 years — between 1992 and 2001 — Coetzer never ended the year outside the top 20 in the world and even though curtailing the number of tournaments she played last year, she still finished 2003 in 25th spot.
Coetzer represented South Africa in numerous Fed Cup ties and three Olympic Games and the gap that she will leave will not be easily filled, a fact acknowledged by chairman of the SA Tennis Association Johann Koorts.
"Amanda must surely have been not only one of the most respected women in sport in South Africa and the world, but also an icon of sportsmanship and femininity whose attitude to the game of tennis has been an example to us all.
"She has graced the tennis courts of the world and was always the perfect ambassador for her country.
"This is definitely a sad day for tennis in South Africa and I hope that the legacy she leaves behind will be an inspiration to all our kids to follow in her footsteps.
"On behalf of the South African Tennis Association and the tennis players of our country I wish Amanda all the best with her well-earned retirement.
"We are delighted that Amanda will still in some way be involved in the game she so loved and we hope that we will be able to make use of her expertise and experience in assisting the development of the game in South Africa," said Koorts.
Coetzer is considering various options for her life after professional tennis but she said she wanted to take some time out to think about these options and consider her future. However she said that her "Learn Tennis, Love Tennis Foundation" would continue to be one of her main priorities.
sport.iafrica.com/news/329983.htm
