Amanda Coetzer

Amanda Coetzer (born 22 October 1971, in Hoopstad) is a South African former professional tennis player. Coetzer finished in the WTA rankings top 20 for ten consecutive seasons (1992–2001), peaking at world No. 3. She reached three Grand Slam semifinals (Australian Open 1996 and 1997, French Open 1997) and one Grand Slam doubles final (US Open 1993). Coetzer earned a reputation for regularly beating players who were ranked higher than her. By virtue of scoring so many upset wins in spite of her five-foot-two (1.58m) stature, she gained the nickname: "The Little Assassin".[1]

Amanda Coetzer
Coetzer at the 2000 French Open
Country (sports) South Africa
ResidenceHoopstad
Born (1971-10-22) 22 October 1971 (age 52)
Hoopstad, South Africa
Height1.58 m (5 ft 2 in)
Turned proJanuary 1988
RetiredJune 2004
PlaysRight-handed (two-handed backhand)
Prize money$5,594,821
Singles
Career record568–337 (62.8%)
Career titles9
Highest rankingNo. 3 (3 November 1997)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian OpenSF (1996, 1997)
French OpenSF (1997)
Wimbledon4R (1994)
US OpenQF (1994, 1996, 1998)
Doubles
Career record269–219
Career titles9
Highest rankingNo. 15 (27 September 1993)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian OpenQF (2002)
French OpenSF (1993, 1994)
Wimbledon3R (1998, 2001)
US OpenF (1993)
Mixed doubles
Career record18–18
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Australian Open2R (1995, 2001)
French OpenQF (1994)
WimbledonQF (2000)
US Open2R (1992, 1993)
Team competitions
Fed CupQF (1995, 1996), record 31–13
Hopman CupW (2000)

Personal life

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Coetzer was born in Hoopstad, South Africa, to Nico and Suska Coetzer. She started playing tennis at the age of six. During her career, she resided primarily in Hilton Head, South Carolina and was coached by Gavin Hopper, later by Lori McNeil. As a photographer's model she appeared as a Sunshine Girl in the Canadian Sun newspaper chain. She is married to the Hollywood film producer Arnon Milchan.[2] They have two children, Shimon (born 2009) and Olivia (born 2011).[3]

In 1998, Coetzer was featured in All Star Tennis '99, a tennis video game released on PlayStation and Nintendo 64.[4]

Career

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Coetzer's breakthrough year was in 1992. She beat world No. 3, Gabriela Sabatini, in Boca Raton, and Jennifer Capriati at the Italian Open, entering into the top 20 in August.

In 1993, Coetzer won her first WTA Tour title in Melbourne, defeating Naoko Sawamatsu in the final, and reached the final of the US Open women's doubles with Inés Gorrochategui.

At the Canada Masters in 1995, Coetzer defeated three players ranked in the world's top 5 – Steffi Graf (No. 1), Jana Novotná (No. 4) and Mary Pierce (No. 5) – before finally losing to Monica Seles in the final. The defeat of Graf ended a 32-match winning-streak for the German. At the end of the year, Coetzer was awarded the WTA Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award (voted for by other players).

At the Australian Open in 1996, Coetzer became the first South African woman in the Open Era to reach a Grand Slam semifinal, where she lost in three sets to Anke Huber.

In 1997, she reached the Australian Open semifinals for the second consecutive year, defeating world No. 1, Steffi Graf, in the fourth round. She beat Graf for a second time that year at the German Open in May (inflicting Graf's worst-ever loss: 6–0, 6–1 in just 56 minutes), and then, in the quarterfinals of the French Open, she defeated Graf yet again to become one of only four to defeat her more than once in Grand Slam matches. Coetzer lost in the French Open semifinals to eventual champion Iva Majoli. She broke into the top 10 in June and top 5 in August, and in Leipzig Coetzer beat Martina Hingis, who by then had taken over the world No. 1 ranking. Coetzer won two singles titles that year – in Budapest and Luxembourg, reached 15 semifinals (or better) in total and was awarded the Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award for a second time, the Most Improved Player and Diamond Aces awards (all WTA).

Coetzer won the biggest title of her career in 1998, at the Charleston Open. She also beat Conchita Martínez on her way to a third quarterfinals showing at the US Open.

In 1999, Coetzer defeated world No. 1, Lindsay Davenport, and world No. 4, Monica Seles, on her way to the final of Tokyo, thereby becoming the only player to ever defeat Graf, Hingis and Davenport while they were ranked number one.

Coetzer teamed-up with Wayne Ferreira to win the 2000 Hopman Cup for South Africa. She beat world No. 3, Venus Williams, in Hamburg and also reached the final of the German Open in Berlin.

In 2001, she qualified for her ninth consecutive Year-end championships, and finished her tenth consecutive season in the world's top 20.

Coetzer retired in 2004. Overall, she won 18 WTA tournament titles, nine in singles and nine in doubles. Her final singles title was won in Acapulco in 2003, and her career prize-money earnings totalled $6 million.

Grand Slam finals

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Doubles: 1 runner–up

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OutcomeYearChampionshipSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Runner-up1993US OpenHard Inés Gorrochategui Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
Helena Suková
6–4, 6–2

WTA career finals

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Singles: 21 (9 titles, 12 runner-ups)

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Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (0–0)
Tier I (1–3)
Tier II (1–5)
Tier III, IV & V (7–4)
Finals by surface
Hard (2–6)
Grass (0–0)
Clay (6–3)
Carpet (1–3)
ResultNo.DateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScore
Loss1.Oct 1991Puerto Rico OpenHard Julie Halard5–7, 5–7
Win1.Jan 1993Melbourne Open, AustraliaHard Naoko Sawamatsu6–2, 6–3
Loss2.Feb 1993Indian Wells Masters, United StatesHard Mary Joe Fernández6–3, 1–6, 6–7(6–8)
Win2.Sep 1993International Championships TokyoHard Kimiko Date6–3, 6–2
Loss3.Feb 1994Indian Wells Masters, U.S.Hard Steffi Graf0–6, 4–6
Win3.May 1994Prague Open, Czech RepublicClay Åsa Carlsson6–1, 7–6(16–14)
Loss4.Aug 1995Canadian OpenHard Monica Seles0–6, 1–6
Loss5.Oct 1995Brighton International, EnglandCarpet (i) Mary Joe Fernández4–6, 5–7
Loss6.Feb 1996Oklahoma City Cup, U.S.Hard (i) Brenda Schultz-McCarthy3–6, 2–6
Win4.Apr 1997Budapest Grand Prix, HungaryClay Sabine Appelmans6–1, 6–3
Loss7.Sep 1997Sparkassen Cup Leipzig, GermanyCarpet (i) Jana Novotná2–6, 6–4, 3–6
Win5.Oct 1997Luxembourg OpenCarpet (i) Barbara Paulus6–4, 3–6, 7–5
Win6.Mar 1998Family Circle Cup, U.S.Clay Irina Spîrlea6–3, 6–4
Loss8.Feb 1999Pan Pacific Open, JapanCarpet (i) Martina Hingis2–6, 1–6
Loss9.Feb 1999Oklahoma City Cup, U.S.Hard (i) Venus Williams4–6, 0–6
Loss10.May 2000German OpenClay Conchita Martínez1–6, 2–6
Win7.May 2000Belgian OpenClay Cristina Torrens Valero4–6, 6–2, 6–3
Win8.Feb 2001Mexican OpenClay Elena Dementieva2–6, 6–1, 6–2
Loss11.Apr 2001Amelia Island Championships, U.S.Clay Amélie Mauresmo4–6, 5–7
Loss12.Feb 2003Memphis Championships, U.S.Clay Lisa Raymond3–6, 2–6
Win9.Feb 2003Mexican OpenClay Mariana Díaz Oliva7–5, 6–3

Doubles: 23 (9 titles, 14 runner-ups)

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Legend
Grand Slam tournaments (0–1)
Tier I (1–2)
Tier II (3–7)
Tier III, IV & V (5–4)
Finals by surface
Hard (4–6)
Grass (0–0)
Clay (5–7)
Carpet (0–1)
ResultNo.DateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Win1.Apr 1992Taranto Trophy, ItalyClay Inés Gorrochategui Rachel McQuillan
Radka Zrubáková
4–6, 6–3, 7–6(0)
Loss1.Jul 1992Austrian OpenClay Wiltrud Probst Alexia Dechaume
Florencia Labat
3–6, 3–6
Loss2.Sep 1992Taipei Championship, TaiwanHard Cammy MacGregor Jo-Anne Faull
Julie Richardson
6–3, 3–6, 2–6
Win2.Oct 1992Puerto Rico OpenHard Elna Reinach Gigi Fernández
Kathy Rinaldi
6–2, 4–6, 6–2
Loss3.Apr 1993Amelia Island Championships, U.S.Clay Inés Gorrochategui Manuela Maleeva-Fragniere
Leila Meskhi
6–3, 3–6, 4–6
Loss4.Aug 1993US OpenHard Inés Gorrochategui Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
Helena Suková
4–6, 2–6
Loss5.Sep 1993Tokyo International Championships, JapanHard Linda Wild Lisa Raymond
Chanda Rubin
4–6, 1–6
Loss6.Nov 1993San Jose Open, United StatesCarpet (i) Inés Gorrochategui Patty Fendick
Meredith McGrath
2–6, 0–6
Loss7.Apr 1994Amelia Island Championships, U.S.Clay Inés Gorrochategui Larisa Neiland
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
2–6, 7–6(6), 4–6
Win3.May 1994Prague Open, Czech RepublicClay Linda Wild Kristie Boogert
Laura Golarsa
6–4, 3–6, 6–2
Win4.Apr 1995Amelia Island Championships, U.S.Clay Inés Gorrochategui Nicole Arendt
Manon Bollegraf
6–2, 3–6, 6–2
Win5.May 1995German OpenClay Inés Gorrochategui Larisa Neiland
Gabriela Sabatini
4–6, 7–6(3), 6–2
Loss8.Sep 1995Tokyo International ChampionshipsHard Linda Wild Lindsay Davenport
Mary Joe Fernández
3–6, 2–6
Win6.Sep 1996Tokyo International ChampionshipsHard Mary Pierce Park Sung-hee
Wang Shi-ting
6–1, 7–6(5)
Win7.Apr 1997Budapest Grand Prix, HungaryClay Alexandra Fusai Eva Martincová
Elena Wagner
6–3, 6–1
Loss9.May 1998Italian OpenClay Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Virginia Ruano Pascual
Paola Suárez
6–7(1), 4–6
Loss10.Feb 1999U.S. Indoor ChampionshipsHard (i) Jessica Steck Lisa Raymond
Rennae Stubbs
3–6, 4–6
Loss11.Apr 1999Barclay Cup Hamburg, GermanyClay Jana Novotná Larisa Neiland
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
2–6, 1–6
Loss12.Sep 1999Tokyo Princess Cup, JapanHard Jelena Dokic Conchita Martínez
Patricia Tarabini
7–6(5), 4–6, 2–6
Loss13.May 2000German OpenClay Corina Morariu Conchita Martínez
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
6–3, 2–6, 6–7(7)
Win8.Feb 2001U.S. Indoor ChampionshipsHard (i) Lori McNeil Janet Lee
Wynne Prakusya
6–3, 2–6, 6–0
Loss14.May 2001Internationaux de Strasbourg, FranceClay Lori McNeil Silvia Farina Elia
Iroda Tulyaganova
1–6, 6–7(0)
Win9.Sep 2001Brasil OpenHard Lori McNeil Nicole Arendt
Patricia Tarabini
6–7(8), 6–2, 6–4

Grand Slam singles performance timeline

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Key
W F SFQF#RRRQ#P#DNQAZ#POGSBNMSNTIPNH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (P#) preliminary round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (Z#) Davis/Fed Cup Zonal Group (with number indication) or (PO) play-off; (G) gold, (S) silver or (B) bronze Olympic/Paralympic medal; (NMS) not a Masters tournament; (NTI) not a Tier I tournament; (P) postponed; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.
Tournament19881989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004SRW–LW%
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian OpenAAAAA1R2R3RSFSF4R4R2RQF4R4R2R0 / 1231–1272%
French OpenA4R1R2R3R2R4R2R4RSF1R1R3R3R1R1RA0 / 1523–1561%
WimbledonQ31R2R2RA2R4R2R2R2R2R3R2R3R2R2RA0 / 1417–1455%
US OpenQ11R1R1R3R3RQF1RQF4RQF1R3R1R3R3RA0 / 1525–1563%
Win–loss0–03–31–32–34–24–411–44–413–414–48–45–46–48–46–46–41–10 / 5696–5663%
Year-end championship
Tour ChampionshipsAAAAAQF1R1R1R1R1R1RQF1RAAA0 / 92–918%
Tier I tournaments
TokyoTier IIITier IIAAAAQFSFFQF2R2R1RA0 / 710–759%
Boca RatonTier II2RSFTier IINot Held0 / 25–271%
Indian WellsNHT IIITier II2R3R3R2RAQFQFA0 / 68–657%
MiamiA3R2R2RQF4R4R4R3R2R4RQFQF4R4R2RA0 / 1526–1563%
CharlestonTier IIA2R3RQF3R3R2RQFW3RQFQFQF3RA1 / 1328–1270%
BerlinA2R1R3RAAA2R2RSF3R1RFQF1RAA0 / 1115–1158%
RomeT IVT II2R2RSF3R2R3RA3R2R2RAAA2RA0 / 1013–1057%
San DiegoT VT IVTier IIITier IIA0 / 00–00%
Montreal / TorontoTier IIAA3R3R3RF3RQF3RQF2R3R3R3RA0 / 1222–1265%
MoscowNHTier VNot HeldTier IIIAAAAASF1RA0 / 23–260%
ZürichT IVT IIITier IIAAA1R2RQFQF2R2R2R1RA0 / 87–847%
PhiladelphiaNot HeldTier IIQF1R1RTier IINot HeldTier II0 / 32–340%
Career statistics
Year-end ranking15763766717151819144171112192125286

Best Grand Slam results details

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Wins over top 10 players

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Season19921993199419951996199719981999200020012002Total
Wins2324292341134
#PlayerRankEventSurfaceRdScoreCoetzer
Rank
1992
1. Gabriela Sabatini3Virginia Slims of Florida, U.S.HardQuarterfinal4–6, 6–1, 6–261
2. Jennifer Capriati6Italian OpenClay3R6–1, 3–6, 6–431
1993
3. Jennifer Capriati6Amelia Island, U.S.Hard2R6–2, 1–6, 6–415
4. Arantxa Sánchez Vicario2Tokyo, JapanHardSemifinal6–3, 6–417
5. Mary Joe Fernández6WTA Tour ChampionshipsCarpet (i)1R6–3, 6–416
1994
6. Mary Joe Fernández7Evert Cup, U.S.HardQuarterfinal6–2, 2–6, 7–6(4)16
7. Kimiko Date6French OpenClay1R6–2, 6–118
1995
8. Steffi Graf1Canadian OpenHard2R3–6, 6–2, 7–6(6)27
9. Mary Pierce5Canadian OpenHardQuarterfinal6–4, 5–7, 6–027
10. Jana Novotná4Canadian OpenHardSemifinal6–4, 6–327
11. Magdalena Maleeva8Brighton, UKCarpetSemifinal6–3, 6–323
1996
12. Chanda Rubin10Oklahoma City, U.S.HardSemifinal6–2, 2–6, 7–6(4)17
13. Anke Huber5US OpenHard1R6–1, 2–6, 6–217
1997
14. Steffi Graf1Australian OpenHard4R6–2, 7–514
15. Irina Spîrlea10Tokyo, JapanCarpet2R6–4, 2–6, 6–412
16. Arantxa Sánchez Vicario4Family Circle Cup, U.S.Clay3R6–2, 5–7, 6–015
17. Jana Novotná4Amelia Island, U.S.Clay3R6–2, 1–6, 6–114
18. Steffi Graf2German OpenClayQuarterfinal6–0, 6–110
19. Conchita Martínez7French OpenClay4R6(4)–7, 6–4, 6–311
20. Steffi Graf2French OpenClayQuarterfinals6–1, 6–411
21. Jana Novotná3New Haven Open, U.S.HardQuarterfinal1–6, 6–3, 6–15
22. Martina Hingis1Leipzig Cup, GermanyCarpetSemifinal6–4, 4–6, 7–6(3)6
1998
23. Conchita Martínez7US OpenHard4R6–4, 4–6, 6–211
24. Arantxa Sánchez Vicario4Philadelphia, U.S.Hard2R6–4, 6–115
1999
25. Lindsay Davenport1Tokyo, JapanCarpetQuarterfinal2–6, 6–4, 6–315
26. Monica Seles4Tokyo, JapanCarpetSemifinal6–4, 6–215
27. Mary Pierce8Miami Open, U.S.Hard3R6–1, 4–2(ret)9
2000
28. Conchita Martínez7Key Biscayne, U.S.Hard3R6–1, 6–220
29. Venus Williams3Hamburg, GermanyClayQuarterfinal6–3, 6–418
30. Julie Halard-Decugis10Hamburg, GermanyClay3R6–2, 6–216
31. Anke Huber10New Haven, U.S.HardQuarterfinal7–6(3), 6–114
2001
32. Elena Dementieva10Acapulco, MexicoClayFinal2–6, 6–1, 6–211
2002
33. Jelena Dokic5Moscow, RussiaCarpet (i)3R7–6(3), 3–6, 6–126
2003
34. Daniela Hantuchová5Indian Wells, U.S.Carpet (i)3R6–4, 6–419

Longest winning streaks

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First 8–match singles winning streak (1992)

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#TournamentCategoryStart dateSurfaceRdOpponentRankScoreACR
Family Circle Cup, United StatesTier I30 March 1992Clay3R Gabriela Sabatini (1)No. 35–7, 4–6No. 35
1Fed Cup Europe/Africa Zone, GreeceTeam event13 April 1992Clay- Anne KremerNo. NR6–0, 6–0No. 35
2- Helene HolterNo. 8286–0, 6–0
3- Gina NilandNo. 5146–1, 6–1
4Fed Cup Europe/Africa Zone, Greece- Ljudmila PavlovNo. NR6–3, 6–0
5- Barbara MulejNo. 1416–4, 4–6, 6–1
6- Nadin ErcegovićNo. 1317–5, 4–6, 6–2
7Ilva Trophy, ItalyTier V27 April 1992Clay1R Cristina Salvi (WC)No. 1806–3, 6–2No. 32
82R Nathalie HerremanNo. 1154–6, 6–0, 7–5
QF Linda FerrandoNo. 954–6, 2–6

Second 8–match singles winning streak (1994)

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#TournamentCategoryStart dateSurfaceRdOpponentRankScoreACR
Italian Open, ItalyTier I2 May 1994Clay2R Radka Zrubáková (Q)No. 1680–6, 5–7No. 18
1BVV Prague Open, Czech RepublicTier IV9 May 1994Clay1R Eva MartincováNo. 1226–3, 6–3No. 18
22R Janette HusárováNo. 936–2, 6–4
3QF Barbara Schett (8)No. 826–3, 6–1
4SF Paola Suárez (Q)No. 1547–5, 6–2
5F Åsa CarlssonNo. 846–1, 7–6(16–14)
6French Open, FranceGrand Slam23 May 1994Clay1R Kimiko Date (6)No. 66–2, 6–1No. 18
72R Radka BobkováNo. 776–4, 6–4
83R Marketa KochtaNo. 556–0, 6–3
4R Mary Pierce (12)No. 121–6, 1–6

Third 8–match singles winning streak (1997)

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#TournamentCategoryStart dateSurfaceRdOpponentRankScoreACR
Amelia Island Championships, United StatesTier II7 April 1997ClaySF Lindsay Davenport (6)No. 85–7, 2–6No. 14
1Budapest Grand Prix, HungaryTier IV21 April 1997Clay1R Andrea Temesvári (WC)No. 2077–6, 6–2No. 12
22R Marion MaruskaNo. 896–0, 6–4
3QF Elena WagnerNo. 1196–1, 6–7, 6–2
4SF Henrieta Nagyová (7)No. 346–7, 6–1, 6–0
5F Sabine Appelmans (4)No. 236–1, 6–3
6Croatian Bol Ladies Open, CroatiaTier IV28 April 1997Clay1R Melanie Schnell (LL)No. 1606–1, 6–2No. 10
72R Kristina BrandiNo. 892–6, 6–0, 6–3
8QF Sarah PitkowskiNo. 606–4, 7–6
SF Mirjana Lučić (Q)No. NR4–6, 3–6

Fourth 8–match singles winning streak (1998)

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#TournamentCategoryStart dateSurfaceRdOpponentRankScoreACR
Lipton Championships, United StatesTier I16 March 1998Hard4R Silvia Farina (29)No. 317–6, 2–6, 1–6No. 5
Family Circle Cup, United StatesTier I30 March 1998Clay1RbyeNo. 4
12R Silvia FarinaNo. 286–4, 6–3
23R Virginia Ruano PascualNo. 496–0, 6–4
3QF Andrea Glass (Q)No. 944–6, 7–6 ret.
4SF Lisa Raymond (15)No. 196–4, 6–1
5F Irina Spîrlea (9)No. 126–3, 6–4
Amelia Island Championships, United StatesTier II6 April 1998Clay1RbyeNo. 4
62R Magüi SernaNo. 416–3, 6–3
73R Ruxandra Dragomir (11)No. 226–4, 6–7, 6–0
8QF Tara Snyder (WC)No. 746–4, 6–4
SF Conchita Martínez (6)No. 94–6, 0–6

References

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  1. ^ Cavannaugh, Jack (27 August 1998). "Coetzer Bounces Back With a Vengeance". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  2. ^ "Women in Sport: The Little Assassin who chose the quiet life". The Citizen. 23 March 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  3. ^ "Former SA tennis star welcomes baby". News24. 15 June 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  4. ^ "All Star Tennis '99 (Nintendo 64)". Diario AS (in Spanish). 14 January 1999. Retrieved 30 September 2023. You can choose between 12 characters to play, and the best of it is that eight of them will be tennis players who are well renowned in the world. We can see Conchita Martínez (Where is Arantxa?), Jonas Bjorkman, Richard Krajicek, Mark Philippoussis, Gustavo Kuerten, Jana Novotna, Michael Chang and Amanda Coetzer.
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Awards
Preceded by Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award
1995
Succeeded by