Austin Krajicek is World No. 1

Austin Krajicek turned pro in 2012 and was a journeyman player in singles and doubles for a decade. His best ranking in singles was 94 in 2015 (match record was 12-24).

The lefthander then focused on doubles and accomplished a good career as a journeyman caliber player. His first title came in 2018 in Moscow with Rajeev Ram. Then he won two more in 2019 with Dominic Inglot and one in 2020 with Franko Skugor in Kitzbuhel. In 2021 Krajicek didn’t win a title.

Then in April 2022 Ivan Dodig asked Krajicek to be his partner and they won three titles including having three match points in the French Open final vs Roger and Arevalo.

Dodig and Krajicek stayed together this year and have won three titles in Rotterdam, Monte Carlo and this weekend’s triumph at French Open, which elevated the 32 year old Krajicek to world no. 1, a feat the 38 year old Dodig has yet to accomplish. (Krajicek played Miami with Nicolas Mahut and reached the final, Dodig did not play Miami.)

My memories of Krajicek are seeing him around the circuit in Newport, Miami, US Open, and Sarasota Open, he always looked overweight until a couple of years ago he trimmed down about fifteen or twenty pounds. I’d watch a few points of his matches or practice and never thought of doing a Biofile with him. None of my colleagues in the tennis media ever mentioned him. I saw him play in the Newport final of 2021 with Vasek Pospisil where they lost to Jack Sock and Will Blumberg. To my sometimes perceptive eyes, Krajicek looked like an ordinary basic ATP pro player. But as Krajicek has proven now, he is extraordinary, elite and a historic player.

Austin Krajicek, former Texas A&M NCAA doubles champion of 2011 is the premier doubles player in the world and a Grand Slam champion.

Austin Krajicek · Babolat · Ivan Dodig · Lotto · Roland Garros

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