2000 IN REVIEW
The South African finished in Top 25 in doubles for second consecutive year at No. 22...Teamed with countryman David Adams to win a career-high three titles and had 37-24 record...Played all but one Davis Cup match (w/Norval) during year with Adams...Began season by reaching SF in Doha and Sydney ...Reached SF in Dubai in February and followed with back-to-back indoor titles in Rotterdam (d. Henman-Kafelnikov) and London (d. Gambill-Humphries)...In March, reached QF at TMS Indian Wells...During clay court circuit, won title in Munich (d. Mirnyi-Zimonjic)...On grass, reached SF in Nottingham and at his third different Grand Slam at Wimbledon...Next month, reached QF at TMS Toronto...In September, represented his country in Sydney Olympics and reached SF, losing to eventual gold medalists Lareau-Nestor...Also lost in bronze medal match to Corretja-Costa...Finished No. 7 in Team Race (w/Adams) and qualified for ATP Tour World Doubles Championship in Bangalore, but withdrew due to right wrist injury...Surpassed $1 million in his career.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
1992-Captured first ATP title in Moscow (w/Barnard) and won third Challenger title in Turin (w/B. Black)...1993-Reached final in Lyon (w/Kruger) and first Grand Slam SF at Australian Open (w/Ondruska) ...1994-Earned second ATP title in Tel Aviv (w/Bale)...Reached final in Basel (w/Bale)...Also advanced to SF in three other events...Finished No. 41 individually...1995-Captured lone title of season in Toulouse (w/Bjorkman), runner-up in Lyon (w/W. Ferreira) and SF in five other stops...Finished No. 49 individually...1996-Best finish was SF in Kitzbuehel (w/Schalken) and QF in 12 other events (w/eight different partners)...1997-Won three of four Challenger finals...Best Tour-level finish was QF at US Open (w/Koenig)...1998-Reached two ATP doubles finals-Halle (w/Goellner) and Vienna (w/Adams) and SF (w/Koenig) at four other Tour stops, including US Open...Finished in Top 50 doubles for third time in career ('94-'95)...1999-Finished at year-end high No. 18 with career-best 43 match victories...Won Rotterdam, and finalist in Dubai, TMS Roma, Washington, Toulouse, and TMS Stuttgart (all w/Adams)...Qualified for first ATP Tour World Doubles Championship and went 0-2 in round robin play (withdraw from last match due to flu)...Made Davis Cup debut and went 2-0 in doubles play...Earned a career high $288,853.
PERSONAL
Began playing tennis at age five...After winning 12-under Orange Bowl and seeing his name next to players like Edberg, Becker and Wilander, he thought more seriously about a tennis career...Captured US Open juniors doubles title (w/Alami) in 1991...A rugby and cricket "fanatic" who often phones home for updates of his favorite teams, Western Province in rugby and Transvaal in cricket...Afrikaans is his first language, but speaks English and Zulu as well...In 1994, founded "Match Point," a monthly South African tennis magazine to promote pro and local junior tennis...Also established John-Laffnie de Jager Fun Tennis Circuit that hosts 20 junior tournaments around South Africa and founded Match Point Development Squad to ensure kids learn to have fun with tennis...Has a 3-1 Davis Cup record in four ties since 1999...Coached by Craig Tiley.
