STELLENBOSCH, South Africa. Dec 11 (AP): Steffi Graf may have lost her competitive edge since she retired from professional tennis in August, but her popularity hasn't waned a bit.

Graf lost to South Africa's top player Amanda Coetzer 3-6, 6-3. 6-2 in the second match of their three-match exhibition series Friday after having convincingly won the first leg of the tour.

Coetzer came back from a set down to win, but her home crowd still cheered louder for her opponent, something South African sports fans virtually never do.

Graf started strongly, but Coetzer gained the upper hand in the second set, hitting powerful down-the-line backhands, which left the German standing.

Coetzer started the final set breaking Grafs serve. Graf immediately broke back, but Coetzer broke Grafs serve again in the fifth, sixth and seventh game, then held her own serve to love and ended the match with an ace.

Graf. 30, is in South Africa on the first leg of a yearlong world tour to show her appreciation to the fans who have supported her since she took to the professional circuit at age 13.

She said she has hardly played any tennis since she retired and is enjoying her occasional court appearance.

"I'm not taking everything so seriously. The most important thing is that people'enjoy it." she told reporters after the match.

Asked if she planned a comeback she replied: "Oh no."

Franco Barocas. the promoter of the series, said that turnout for Graf in Durban was the largest crowd at a tennis match the Indian Ocean city had seen in 40 years.

The 1.500 seat Stellenbosch stadium — the only one available — was sold out within two days.

Graf and Ccetzer, currently ranked Vith in the world, meet agairi in Johannesburg on Sunday for the series' deciding match.