Jeff Coetzee to coach Belgium doubles team in 2022 ATP Tour season

Leading South African professional tennis coach Jeff Coetzee has signed a new coaching deal with rising Belgian tennis doubles team of Sander Gillé and Joran Vliegen.

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The Belgian duo, who are ranked 13th in the world as a team, approached Coetzee after they learnt that he had ended his long-standing coaching arrangement with Colombian Grand Slam winners Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah last month.

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Sander Gillé, 30, and Joran Vliegen, 28, are individually ranked 24th and 32nd, respectively, on the ATP world doubles ranking.

The team have won five ATP tour career titles to date.

They reached the semi-finals of the ATP Masters in Madrid (May) and Toronto (August) this year.

Jeff Coetzee said that both players had great potential.

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“I have watched the Belgians with interest over the years. They have made some impressive moves as a team on the world rankings and won a number of big matches against much higher ranked teams raking in important titles on the tour.”

“Joran is left-handed which is a huge plus in the combination and to me he is a rough diamond ready to be polished and to shine. Sander is right-handed and has such a lose arm offering the team the perfect mix to break well into the world’s top 10.”

Both Gillé and Vliegen turned professional after attending college in the USA where their enjoyed great success playing in the NCAA.

“The exciting part for me is that I love challenges and there is no substitute for hard work with these two guys. They are very eager to learn, and they believe in me by their side and have set goals with me as coach to break into the worlds top ten and go deep into the majors and win some Grand Slams,” continued Coetzee.

The 2021 season was a tough year for the Belgian pair with both sustaining injuries.

“One thing I want is to assist the boys in staying healthy and change their nutrition,” added Coetzee.

Jeff Coetzee’s first assignment is the Australian Open

Coetzee will jet off to join the Belgians on 27 December for the opening tournaments of the 2022 season in Australia.

They are scheduled to play two ATP 250 events in Adelaide ahead of the first Grand Slam of the new year, the Australian Open, in Melbourne.

The parties have signed a one-year (2022) deal with option to renew for a further three years (2023-2025).