About Amanda Coetzer
Amanda Coetzer is a South African former professional tennis player. She was ranked as high as world No. 3 by the Women's Tennis Association, achieved in November 1997. Coetzer won nine WTA Tour titles in singles and nine in doubles, and reached three major singles semifinals and one major doubles final. 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 5'2" (1.58m) stature, she gained the nickname: "The Little Assassin". 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 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. Coetzer won nine WTA Tour titles in singles and nine in doubles, and reached three major singles semifinals (at the 1996 and 1997 Australian Opens and the 1997 French Open) and one major doubles final (at the 1993 US Open).
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