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Ex-Bok’s daughters tipped for tennis stardom

Cape Town - The daughters of late former Springbok flank Ruben Kruger are tipped as future tennis stars.

CLICK HERE to watch Sport Illustrated’s interview with Zoe and Isabella Kruger

Zoe (13) and her younger sister Isabella (10) currently live America with their mother Lize where they train at the world renowned IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

The IMG Academy started as a tennis academy run by Nick Bollettieri, who mentored Gland Slam champions like Andre Agassi, Jim Courier and Monica Seles.

Sport Illustrated in the USA this week profiled the Kruger sisters, with many tennis coaches and pundits predicting that the two could become future tennis stars.

They are coached by Thomas Hogstedt, a former ATP tour professional, who turned down offers from full-time WTA players in order to coach the girls.

Hogstedt claims to be playing the long game with the Krugers.

“I would be surprised if both of them didn’t win a Grand Slam,” said Hogstedt, who has coached Maria Sharapova, Caroline Wozniacki and Li Na.

The girls already have an agent, Marijn Bal, who also represents two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova. They also have various racquet and shoe sponsors already lined up.

Zoe and Isabella’s father, Ruben, played 36 Tests for the Springboks in the 1990s and was part of the team that won the 1995 Rugby World Cup on home soil.

In 2000, Kruger was diagnosed with brain cancer after blacking out during a game and fought the disease for a number of years. He died in 2010 after losing his battle, aged 39.

Isabella and Zoe Kruger (picture courtesy of the Kruger family)                 

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