Career Highlights
1999
Stretched eventual champion Martina Hingis in the fourth round before falling 3-6, 7-6, 1-6 in the Australian Open.
Made the finals of the Pan Pacific Open and the IGA Superthrift Tennis Classic before falling to Hingis and Venus Williams, respectively.
1998
Upset seventh seed Conchita Martinez to reach the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open, her first quarterfinal in six Grand Slam tournaments. She then lost to Lindsay Davenport 6-0, 6-4.
Won her first top-tier tournament title on the WTA Tour by outlasting Irina Spirlea to take the Family Circle Championship. Seeded fourth, she became the lowest seed to win in the event's 26-year history, and the first South African woman in 19 years to win an event of that stature.
The week following her win at Hilton Head, reached the semifinals at Amelia Island, also a clay court tournament.
Collected her second win of the year over a Top 10 player, defeating No. 4 Arantxa-Sanchez Vicario to reach the quarterfinals in Philadelphia.
1997
Has made two Grand Slam semifinal appearances, falling to Mary Pierce at the Australian Open and eventual champion Iva Majoli at Roland Garros. She had to upset top seed and No. 1-ranked Steffi Graf in the fourth round Down Under to reach the semifinals, becoming one of just nine players (at this time) to defeat Graf in a Grand Slam tournament since Graf won her first Grand Slam singles title at the 1987 French Open. Her victory also halted Graf's Grand Slam match winning streak at 45.
Defeated Sabine Appelmans in the Budapest Ladies Open final for her first title of the year.
Capped off her best year yet on the Tour by becoming the first player to win three Tour awards in the same year: Most Improved Player, Diamond ACES, and Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship (also won sportsmanship award in 1995).
1996
Reached first-ever Grand Slam semifinal at the Australian Open, losing to Anke Huber.
Became the second South African woman in the Open era to reach a Grand Slam semifinal.
Failed to win a title, but had a good deal of success in the Grand Slams, defeating Martina Hingis en route to the semis at Melbourne and knocking off Huber on her way to the U.S. Open quarterfinals.
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