Wimbledon star deliberately lost final and became a nun after retiring
Players often touch on life after tennis, but rarely do they consider becoming a nun after throwing a Wimbledon final.
Andrea Jaeger turned pro at 14 and was tipped for the very top. She quickly realised her talent, beating the world's top players to eventually find herself ranked number two at the age of 16. Grand Slam success first came in the doubles at the French Open.
Then came her opportunity to make a statement in the final at SW19 in 1983 against all-time great Martina Navratilova, who ultimately won her fourth Wimbledon title emerging victorious 6-0, 6-3.
Jaeger though claims she threw the match after hampering Navratilova's pre-match preparation. The American said she took "a few beatings" off her father as she kept certain stories about the locker room to herself. On one occasion she failed to answer when questioned and ran, knowing her father wouldn't hit her in public.
She went next door, where her opponent was staying, and was greeted by Navratilova's trainer, but it was a look from the Wimbledon great that sealed it for Jaeger. She told the Daily Mail : "Martina missed her chance to help her neighbour who was suffering in order to fulfil her desire."
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At that point the teen sensation decided she would throw the towel in, allowing herself to get well beaten when the two met on court, despite beating her in a tournament in Eastbourne beforehand. In the last 40 years only three women have lost a Wimbledon final whilst only winning three games - Jaeger among them.
She admitted: "I went on court in complete peace knowing that giving the match away was the right thing to do. I had to look myself in the mirror for the rest of my life. It meant more to Martina anyway. During the match I missed balls on purpose. I hit right to Martina and when I was getting whipped in the first set 6-0, I tried to look upset about it.
The American was highly-rated as she rose through the ranks (Popperfoto via Getty Images)
Andrea Jaeger threw her Wimbledon final against Martina Navratilova (Popperfoto via Getty Images)"I glanced at my dad. He knew something was wrong because I never got nervous and always started great. I needed to make the second set closer and I did, but not close enough to worry Martina. At changes of ends, I didn't want to look at the crowd. I felt bad that I wasn't giving them the best match as the fans were so good to me over the years, but I also felt that if they knew what had happened they would understand.
"When Martina won the second set 6-3 - and the match - I was happy for her. She walked around with the trophy and everyone wanted her picture. In the press conference I said she played too well.
"God knows the truth. I knew the truth. I emailed Martina three years ago to say it doesn't take away from her win, but she never replied. Had I tried fully, would I have won? I don't have that answer. But I don't want people complaining now and asking for refunds."
Just one year after her Wimbledon saga Jaeger had to retire from the sport due to a shoulder injury and, rather than taking the conventional route like coaching, opted to begin studying to be a nun.
She explained: "I just knew that God existed and that we were friends and had a personal relationship. None of my family knew I prayed every day of my life. In August 2006, I received an associate degree in Ministry Training and Theology. Then I entered a Dominican Sisterhood Programme.
"It's a strict discipline. I wake at 4am, do my prayers and my spiritual study, then I start work at 5am or 6am fund-raising, scheduling programmes and running those programmes. We have something happening for children somewhere in the world every day."
Jaeger, now 58, is also convinced she will stick by her current walk of life for the rest of her days despite confessing to the odd embarrassing wardrobe malfunction.
She added on her religious clothing: "How often I wear the nun's habit depends on what I'm doing. I have three of them. They get dirty pretty fast. I keep getting the robes stuck in buses and escalators. Once I jumped in a cab and left half of it outside the door. The first week I wore it, at a huge global conference in New York City. A bird went to the bathroom on me.
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"I thought that was God's way of saying, 'Maybe it's OK to be a little muddy on the edges – you're the one who used to dive for balls on the tennis court.' I believe I'll always be a Sister. I have a joy and love of life and it's easier to express that in this field."
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