SA tennis guru gets a new coaching gig on the ATP Tour

Belgian duo Sander Gille, in front, and Joran Vliegen. (Photo: ATP Tour / Tennis SA)

Well-known South African tennis coach Jeff Coetzee has signed a new coaching contract with a rising Belgian duo Sander Gille and Joran Flying.

Belgians who are ranked 13th place in the world in doubles, approached Coetze after recently ending his long-standing partnership with Colombian Grand Slam champions Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah.

Gille, 30, and Vliegen, 28, are personally 24 and 32. ATP Tour doubles ranking.

Together, they have won five ATP championships and reached the semifinals at the ATP Masters Series in Madrid and Toronto this year.

Coetzee, who signed a one-year contract to continue with three new ones (2023-2025), said he expects a new challenge.

“I have been following the Belgians with interest for years. They have made impressive moves as a team in the world rankings and won several major matches against teams at a much higher level, raking in important titles on tour,” he said. opinion.

“Joran is left-handed, which is a huge plus in the combination and for me he is a rough diamond that is ready to be polished and shine. Sander is right-handed and has such a lost hand that gives the team the perfect combination to break into the top 10 in the world.”

Both Gille and Vliegen turned professional after attending university in the United States, where they enjoyed great success at the NCAA.

“The exciting part for me is that I love challenges, and nothing can replace hard work with these two guys. They are very eager to learn, and they believe alongside me and have set me goals as a coach to reach the top 10 in the world and go deep into the big tournaments and win some Grand Slam tournaments, ”Coetzee continued.

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2021 was a difficult year for the Belgian couple, as both suffered injuries throughout the year.

“One thing I want is to help boys stay healthy and change their diet,” Coetzee added.

Coetzee will join his new team on December 27 ahead of the 2022 season opener in Australia. They are scheduled to play two ATP 250 events in Adelaide before the Australian Open in Melbourne.

Coetzee achieved significant success with Cabal and Farah, which he started as a coach in December 2013.

Under Coetze’s direction, the Colombian duo won 20 titles, including two Grand Slam victories in 2019 – at Wimbledon and the US Open. They also became the number one couple in the world in July 2019.