/ 23 March 1998

Coetzer pulls out of Fed Cup

MONDAY, 2.00PM:

THE organisers of the glamorous MTN Classic women’s tennis tournament are in hot water after accusations from the South African Tennis Association that the tournament could place the game it is trying to boost in serious jeopardy.

Sata chairman Gordon Forbes criticised the event for causing the withdrawal of SA top seed and world number five Amanda Coetzer from the vital Euro-Africa Fed Cup qualifying tournament in La Manga, Spain. The tournament takes place a week before the MTN tournament at the Northgate Dome.

Coetzer’s participation in Spain is regarded as critical to SA’s chances of returning to the World Group. The young and inexperienced team will now be led by in-form Joanette Kruger, who is ranked 25 in the world.