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Biofile Richard Krajicek Interview
Status: 1996 Wimbledon champion. Won 17 career ATP singles titles and three in doubles. Reached no. 4 ranking in 1999. Turned pro in 1989 and played until 2003. Became Rotterdam tournament director in 2004. Authored tennis book ‘Fast Balls’ in 2005.
DOB: December 6, 1971 In: Rotterdam, Netherlands
Ht: 6-5 Wt: 190
Early Tennis Memory: I was six or seven, I used to play tennis with my sister Lenka. She used to always beat me. She was 13. Then she played left-handed to make it fair. And she still beat me [smiles].
Childhood Hero: Magic Johnson.
Favorite Movies: Silence of the Lambs, In The Line Of Fire, funny movies. The Lion King. That was good. My girlfriend wanted to see it. Cute, funny, nice to watch.
Nicknames: King of Aces, The Flying Dutchman, Kri.
Best Book Read: Wild Swans. It’s about three generations of women in China. It’s written by the latest generation in a personal way on how they’re different. Very interesting. I learned from it.
Favorite Players To Watch: Stefan Edberg. His style, serve and volley. Very athletic. Beautiful to watch. Plus he’s a fighter, like an animal. He comes back from the dead. And he has courtesy and honor off the court. That’s good to see.
Childhood Dreams: Soccer player. Win Wimbledon. Be the best in sport. Also, if I saw a concert, I’d want to be like them.
Musical Tastes: Prince – a good performer. Classic rock. All but heavy metal. I can appreciate most music.
Favorite Meal: Japanese.
Pre-Match Feeling: Just try to build up some adrenaline, nervousness. But not too much. If you’re a little nervous that’s good. It keeps you awake and sharp. Before the match I usually sit down in the change room and think about the match, what I want to do.
Favorite Breakfast Cereal: Muesli.
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Vanilla.
Greatest Sports Moment: A couple. Always in stages. When I beat Edberg for the first time (1990). Semifinals of Australian Open (beat Michael Chang and Michael Stich in 1992). End of 1992 winning Antwerp (beat Jim Courier, Petr Korda and Mark Woodforde), holding the big diamond plate. I remember watching that as a kid. Suddenly I was holding it. Plus, that broke me into the top ten. So I got to play in the ATP World Championships in Frankfurt. Winning in Barcelona in 1994 after being out for five months (beat Carlos Costa). And winning Wimbledon in 1996 (defeated Mal Washington).
Funniest Player Encountered: Paul Kilderry. He’s a young guy on the way up. From Australia. He’s so funny to me.
People Qualities Most Admired: I don’t admire people, I admire actions. I admire actions of people. If someone does something good I admire it. It could be anything, by any person. If he does something bad I don’t hold a grudge against them all their life. People make mistakes.
Future Ambition: I live day to day. Carpe diem.
Holland · Netherlands · Richard Krajicek · Rotterdam · Wimbledon
Scoop Malinowski · July 1, 2021 at 10:31 am
We did this Biofile in 1996.