Robbie Koenig

1998 IN REVIEW

The only player in year-end Top 50 doubles rankings yet to reach an ATP Tour final in his career...Compiled consistent results throughout season, posting a career-best 23 match victories and advancing to SFs in five Tour-level events, including his first Grand Slam at U.S. Open...Played most of year with countryman John-Laffnie de Jager, compiling an 18-16 record together while 5-8 with others...Opened season with SF in Sydney and followed with RD 16 at Australian Open...In May, advanced to SF on clay in St. P÷lten (w/J. Sanchez)...On grass, reached RD 16 at Wimbledon (w/de Jager), losing to five-time champions Woodbridge-Woodforde...Compiled his best tournament of season at U.S. Open where he made it to SF (w/de Jager), losing to Knowles-Nestor...In October, added another SF in Vienna (w/Broad)...Finished a year-end best No. 44 (from 121 in '97) and earned a career-high $114,111.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

1991-Played in four Satellites, picking up 21 total points...Won his first Challenger match in Johannesburg (l. in 2nd RD)...1992-In his second ATP Tour appearance in singles, advanced to 3rd RD in Washington (d. Bloom, Pozzi, l. to Rostagno)...Reached his first Challenger doubles final in Dublin (w/Geiwald) and advanced to SF at Aachen Challenger (w/de Beer)...1993-Earned singles ranking in two events, qualifying in Durban Tour stop (l. in 1st RD) and finishing third at Israel #2 Satellite (30 points)...1994-Qualified in Tour stops in Sun City and Washington (l. in 1st RD in both)...1995-Finished runner-up at Britain #4 Satellite (42 points) and third at USTA #4 Satellite (32 points)...1996-Finished runner-up at Britain #4 Satellite (40 points)...Qualified and posted his lone singles win of year in Newport (d. Rostango, l. to B. Black)...Reached QF at Reunion Island Challenger...In doubles, captured his first Challenger title in Aachen (w/Ogorodov) and SF at Aptos, Lexington (w/Shelton) and Mauritius Island (w/Johnson)...1997-Played three Challenger events in singles, reaching 2nd RD twice...Finished fifth at South Africa Satellite (15 points)...In doubles, compiled his best results in Challenger play, winning title in Sedona and reaching final in Brest (w/de Jager) while advancing to SF in five other Challengers...In limited Tour play (3-2 record), advanced to his first Grand Slam QF at U.S. Open (w/de Jager)...Finished No. 121 in doubles. GRAND SLAM RECORD * 1998 U.S. Open doubles semifinalist (w/de Jager).

PERSONAL

Began playing tennis at age five with his older brother Carl, as well as his uncle, who played Davis Cup for South Africa in 1960s...Father, Jacques (born in Mauritius), is a semi-retired salesman at an antique furniture store in Kloof (near Durban); mother, Greta, is retired...Enjoys watching cricket, rugby, and playing golf, swimming and water skiing...Enjoys fly-fishing and traveling...As a youngster, admired Bjorn Borg (for his attitude) and Ivan Lendl (for his work ethic)...Wife, Giselle (married Nov. 1, 1997)...Practices at David Lloyd Tennis Center at Wimbledon...Works with Craig Tiley, who coaches at University of Illinois and travels with him in U.S. events.