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Johan Kriek Remembers His Early Struggles In Tennis
24 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
By Johan Kriek
Here is what I had when I was 17 years old…I was in boarding school at Afrikaans Boys High in Pretoria 300 miles from home in Pongola. I lived my last year of high school with an aunt, in her flat before I departed for Austria – blind luck or most likely divine intervention I did that at 17 to follow my coach Ian Cunningham to go live with him and his family in Austria after he had emmigrated from South Africa. I had a used 10-speed bike that I had to stand on one wheel in the elevator to the flat. I studied hard at school, I trained tennis in the afternoons at school which was about five miles away. I biked everywhere. I saw my parents four times a year, during school holidays and then hardly saw my sister and two younger brothers during holidays because mom was driving me around to junior tournaments. I heard: “No, he will not make it.” For a myriad of reasons by so called experts and just told myself: “I can, and I will.” All the time.
These were the people in “power” in tennis in South Africa. I was always the one who had to fight harder, prove myself beyond ANY doubt that I belonged in a team etc. I had no NIKE contract, no Wilson racquet deal, or a shoe deal! I had my mom, my dad and a couple of people who always believed in me. The South African tennis bosses were ZERO involved in getting me to the number 7 ranked ATP player in the world. In fact, when I disappeared from tennis view in South Africa for three years 1976-78 to Austria and came back to South Africa to play a bunch of tournaments including the “Sugar” circuit, I whipped them all! These “bosses” were schocked that this “rugby player” who now could speak fluent English and German – besides Afrikaans and Zulu – could have improved SO much and they did “not know why.”
I will tell you why…It is called DRIVE, HUNGER, NO MONEY, A HATRED TO LOSE, A HARD-NOSED SCREW YOU ATTITUDE. YOU ARE IN MY WAY WIMP! And a healthy “chip” on my shoulder. Some of these character traits pissed a lot of people off, I got fined a lot! I tanked matches sometimes, I was immature…BUT, nobody can tell me that when you are born with a silver spoon in your mouth, like a lot of today’s spoilt, prima donna athletes, that that is a certain path to success, because it is NOT!! I started with NOTHING in Austria, I got a small teaching job to make money, I arrived in Florida in 1978 with $230 cash and a burning ambition to make it in tennis. I played ALL the qualies on the satellites, I came in 3rd and 2nd in the first two circuits. I qualified at the 1978 U.S. Open and beat Yannick Noah in the round of 16 and got a lesson from Vitas Gerulaitis -bless his soul – in the quarters…the rest is history…I was top ten in less than a year.
I will NEVER want my career to have been any other way than, I EARNED IT!
"A burning ambition to make it in tennis."
Scoop Malinowski · July 20, 2011 at 1:27 pm
This should be required reading for young junior players. Very inspiring and powerful message here. Sort of a Rocky Balboa attitude as opposed to what is seemingly going on in America now. There seems to be no special formula to create champion tennis players but Spain is the king of the hill right now, with Serbia on their tail.
Dan markowitz · July 20, 2011 at 5:31 pm
Kriek always gives the impression that he couldn’t stand guys like McEnroe who have such a sense of entitlement. I can’t remember ever seeing Kriek play except in seniors. He has a strong voice so it’d be nice to read more about his journey. Is tis excerpt part of a book?
Scoop Malinowski · July 21, 2011 at 1:55 am
He sure does have a fiery and intelligent personality which would definitely translate into a potentially excellent book, wouldn’t you say Dan? His Biofile was one of the best ever and he has a lot of experience playing Mac, Jimbo, Agassi and that colorful era. I would really like to read a book about his journey against all odds to #7 in the world and two Grand Slam titles.
Dan markowitz · July 21, 2011 at 2:38 am
How did you get ahold of this piece by Kriek?
Andrew Miller · July 21, 2011 at 4:12 am
Quite an incredible piece by Kriek on a lot of levels. Required reading for Pat McEnroe and Jim Courier.
Scoop Malinowski · July 21, 2011 at 11:28 am
We met at a US Open party last year at the Polish consulate (his wife is Polish) and we kept in touch and he wrote it on facebook during a discussion about the USTA and creating champions, he is semi active on FB sometimes, and I thought it was a great bit of writing.
Sakhi · July 22, 2011 at 1:11 am
Interesting post indeed–though it’s curious that he says nothing about apartheid in his litany of woes —it would be fascinating to hear him address that alongside his own lack of access and such.
Scoop–I just responded to your e-mail. Apologies for the delay. I was on holiday.
ta.
Scoop Malinowski · July 22, 2011 at 3:23 am
Agree Sakhi, Johan Kriek was a grand slam champion, a terrific example of perseverance, with a unique life, and any of his thoughts on tennis would be very enjoyable and educational to read as would his memories of living in such a place as S. Africa . You may be able to read his book someday in the future as he expressed some interest to write his own biography. Let’s hope he does. Where was your vacation to? Your presence has been missed here : )
Sakhi · July 22, 2011 at 4:25 am
Will look forward to reading his biography. Speaking of, have any of you journalist types had an early look at the new Rafa biography? I am told it will have special insight into his underwear situation. Just kidding, but seriously, I hear the biography is called RAFA is co-written with someone else. I saw a teaser of its cover while I was home in Mumbai on holiday.
Andrew Miller · July 22, 2011 at 4:42 am
Not to slight tennis players that write books, but IMHO it would be great if JK could partner with Tennis-Prose on a book. It will only ensure that JK is able to write the book he wants to write – having someone else that will help him write the best book he can. It doesnt have to be TP but it would be a smart move by a man who is clearly a smart guy.
Dan markowitz · July 23, 2011 at 12:11 am
Andrew,
Thanks for the props, but you can’t sell a Johan Kriek book to any publisher. It ain’t happening. Michael Chang, Jim Courier they couldn’t sell books. Even Boris Becker didn’t get a US publisher. Roscoe Tanner got a small publisher, but his story is not your usual fare. I’m interested in writing a book chronicling the 2012 season because on many levels I think it’ll be historic, but so far no luck.
Andrew Miller · July 23, 2011 at 2:59 am
Hi Dan – man. Publishing market sounds very rough. But Kriek’s words are pretty helpful I would think to players.
Andrew Miller · July 23, 2011 at 3:06 am
Random here: RAJEEV RAM has a game that is identical to Sampras, without the same athleticism and wheels. He is playing some big tennis vs. Ryan Harrison. Sure – Harrison is green. But Ram is playing a nice match in this semifinal.
Michael · July 23, 2011 at 7:07 am
Ram has has the same problem Delic has (and I think they both came out of U of Ill so had the same coach).
They hit the ball 3 inches over the net so they can’t rally more than a few shots before they make a winner or an error, usually an error.
Have they never seen Nadal play. The guy hits it 6 feet over the net and it seems to work out pretty well.
Scoop Malinowski · July 23, 2011 at 1:37 pm
Did not know about a Rafa bio, will like to read that one for sure. I guess it’s about time. Didn’t Murray do one too already? Bit early for Murray though. Fed’s was a few years ago, read the Rene Stauffer one that was very good.
Scoop Malinowski · July 23, 2011 at 1:40 pm
Spadea’s book did well. I think a guy who hit #7 in the world and won two slams could do well, even if it’s self published or done by a small publisher. If John McEnroe could talk about it on TV during telecasts that would be a major help. Good books will create buzz and sell and based on what Kriek has written here and his Biofile I don’t think there’s any doubt the book could be a very good one.
Dan markowitz · July 23, 2011 at 1:46 pm
I’m reading the best tennis book I’ve ever read. Far better in my mind than the recent High Strung and Epic. It’s called A Terrible Splendor and it’s about the 1937 Davis Cup Finals between Germany and the US, Von Cramm v. Budge. On the cusp of WW II, fascinating, two of the three central characters are gay in a world where being gay got you put in jail or a concentration camp.
Harold · July 23, 2011 at 4:03 pm
For all you young tennis fans, Kriek was Chang before Chang. Fast, thighs like fire hydrants, maybe not as mentally tough, a bit on the fiery side.
Getting to 7 in his era, was pretty damn good. Took advantage of the top players treating the Aussie open like it was The Hamlet and having his best results there
Dan markowitz · July 23, 2011 at 11:36 pm
W’hole on their, Harold. Chang had twice the career Kriek did. Not looking at Kriek’s record, Chang won the French at 17, got to Aussie and US Open finals, won probably more than 30 tournaments and was #2 in an era probably stronger than Kriek’s. Johan might rival Chang’s foot speed, but he was a very different player than Chang. Rosewall, Laver and Chang were probably greatest 5-9 and under, b/c I think Chang was 5-7, players in past 40 years.
Andrew Miller · July 24, 2011 at 5:41 pm
scoreboard says Kriek is the better player with two slams.
Dan Markowitz · July 24, 2011 at 7:04 pm
Come on, Andrew, you can’t be serious. Chang won a slam against Ivan Lendl and Edberg, Kriek beat Steve Denton to win his two slams. There were virtually no great players playing the Aussie Open in 1981 and 1982, that’s why I don’t count Gerulaitis’ AO win or Vilas’s.
Kriek won 14 career titles and lost in 13 finals, compare that to Chang’s 34 and 24 finals record. Chang won seven Masters events and was in the finals of four slams. Kriek reached the semis in only two slams outside Australia.
Andrew Miller · July 25, 2011 at 1:29 am
Muster is arguably better than Chang. Beat Chang on Chang’s own Roland Garros turf, held huge win streaks on clay, not too shabby off it, with 44 tournament titles, three masters on 3 different surfaces.
Two slams beats one. Roddick may not even make hall of fame because he only has one slam and he’s no Chang!
Dan Markowitz · July 25, 2011 at 12:50 pm
The problem with Muster, Andrew, is two-fold. He won 44 tournaments, 43 of which were on clay. He beat Chang in the French finals, but that was only final slam appearance. He did get to two Aussie semis and was ranked No. 1, but I think Chang was a better player for a longer period, got to four slam finals, even quartered at Wimby once, and won $7 million more than Muster.
I would rate Roddick above Chang because of Davis Cup and he got to five slam finals.
Harold · July 25, 2011 at 3:44 pm
Danny boy, I compared him to Chang in terms of size and speed, not career accomplishments.
Kriek played some serve and volley, way more than Chang.