A&M Women's Tennis Lands Decorated Recruit
Dec 09, 2010 | Women's Tennis
Dec. 9, 2010
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Christi Potgieter of Bloemfontein, South Africa, has signed to play tennis at Texas A&M and will join the team in January, Aggie women's coach Bobby Kleinecke announced.
One of the highest rated players to ever sign with the Aggies, Potgieter has been listed as high as 107 in the ITF junior world rankings in singles and as high as 632 and 410 in singles and doubles, respectively, in the WTA women's world rankings.
"It is hard for anyone to come in January right at the start of our spring season, but we are expecting her to come in and play toward the top half of the lineup," Kleinecke said. "And from all the indications of her results and rankings, we really feel she is going to be a great contributor to the program. Christi could be one of the most decorated players we have ever signed at Texas A&M."
The sister of former Aggie standout Elzé Potgeiter, a two time All-Big 12 selection in singles who finished her four-year career last May ranked seventh in the A&M career record books for most singles victories (90), the younger Potgieter has extensive international experience and success playing as an amateur in numerous professional and junior tournaments around the world.
Potgieter competed in the 2009 Australian Open and was a member of the Republic of South Africa's 2009 and 2010 Fed Cup teams. She also is a two-time representative in the African Cup, in which the top two players in each age group in Africa are selected to compete.
Potgieter was the doubles champion at the 2009 WTA $10,000 tournament in Pretoria, and she was the doubles semifinalist in at the WTA South Africa $100,000. In addition, Potgieter reached the semifinals in singles at the WTA South Africa $10,000 and also advanced to the semifinals in doubles at the 2008 Eddie Herr International Junior Tennis Championships in Bradenton, Fl.
Potgieter captured both the singles and doubles championships at the 2008 ITF tournaments in Namibia and Benin, West Africa and also won doubles titles at ITF junior tournaments in Togo and Port Elizabeth.
In the 14s age group, Potgieter competed in the African Junior Championships in Egypt, winning the doubles title and finishing runner-up in singles. She also participated in the Junior World Cup Championships in Czech Republic and was a member of the ITF Africa team to tour Europe in the Young Stars Tennis Tournament.
"Christi is a hard-hitting, aggressive baseliner, who also uses a powerful serve to hurt her opponents and take control of points." Kleinecke said. "She has good size and just like her sister, her backhand is her favorite shot. She comes in with a high level of experience in both singles and doubles, and we are excited that she has chosen to come to Texas A&M. Plus with Elzé serving as a student assistant coach this season, I think that will be an extra special benefit for the two of them. I can't wait for the spring to add Christi to an already strong lineup. "
Potgieter and the Aggies kick off the spring season on January 23 against Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark.
