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Copyright © 2003 Agence France-Presse

Agence France-Presse

SOMERSET WEST, South Africa (February 6, 2003 9:33 a.m. EST) - South
African doubles specialist Jeff Coetzee, who was injured in a car
crash on Friday, has vowed to carry on playing tennis in memory of his
five-year-old nephew Jean-Pierre, who was killed in the same accident.

Coetzee, 23 told South African radio station Safm on Wednesday that
his thoughts were still with Jean-Pierre: "I'll play for him," he said.

He added that he wanted to regain full fitness before resuming his
blossoming partnership with compatriot Chris Haggard: "That's my
goal," he told national news agency Sapa, from his hospital bed in
Somerset West, near Cape Town.

Coetzee explained that after his discharge he would spend four weeks
recuperating at home, where will be given physiotherapy by a nurse,
perhaps twice a week.

His doctor had told him there was a possibility that he might only
play at 25 to 30 percent of his full potential, but "obviously he was
giving a worst-case scenario," Coetzee insisted.

The player said he was still on pain killers and had some difficulty
sitting up.

"The doctors are draining blood from my back where the bruising is
still bad. Once the blood is drained the pain should subside."

He said a scan on his hip showed he had suffered a couple of torn
ligaments.

Coetzee also thanked well-wishers for the numerous get well-cards and
e-mails he had received, many from people he did not know.

Among those to have visited him in hospital were South Africa's No. 1
female tennis player Amanda Coetzer, and South Africa cricketer Nicky
Boje.

Coetzee was driving home on Friday to Okiep in northwestern Northern
Cape province Friday with his older sister and her two sons when their
Fiat Uno's back right tire burst.

The car went out of control and hit a concrete barrier, rolling
several times before coming to a standstill.

Coetzee and Haggard reached the semifinals of the Australian Open ten
days ago before losing to eventual champions Michael Llodra and
Fabrice Santoro of France.

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