August 6, 2007
Richard Krajicek, Newport Preview
The following is a question and answer session with 1996 Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek, who will make his U.S. debut on the Outback Champions Series August 22-26 at the Gibson Guitar Champions Cup at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I.
QUESTION: As a Wimbledon champion, I’m sure you are excited to play on the grass courts at the Gibson Guitar Champions Cup?
RICHARD KRAJICEK: Yes, I do like to play on grass. There are not too many players who feel really comfortable on grass, but my game was made for it. I played in the days of Sampras, Rafter and Ivanisevic, the great grass court players. Now it's all baseliners. The grass has changed, players tell me. It's slower, and therefore it is more difficult to play serve and volley.
I believe it is a shame because I always liked watching contrasting players. Like Borg against McEnroe, Lendl against Edberg and Rafter against Agassi. Not that tennis is less interesting to watch nowadays. For me the Wimbledon final this year was one of the best, if not the best Wimbledon final ever. Nadal is such an impressive player! He has taking tennis to a new level of fitness. And Roger Federer is of course a treat to watch.
QUESTION: When you won Wimbledon in 1996, you had probably the best win of your career, defeating Pete Sampras on Centre Court. Tell us a bit about that match and subsequently going on to win the title?
RICHARD KRAJICEK: My kids Emma and Alec saw the wall of honor in the players lounge at Wimbledon this year. It says: '1993 Sampras --- 1994 Sampras --- 1995 Sampras --- 1996 Krajicek --- 1997 Sampras --- 1998 Sampras --- 1999 Sampras ---2000 Sampras'. And they actually felt bad for Pete! They had met him two months earlier in Athens at an Outback Champions Series event and he hit a few balls with them. My kids really liked him, of course, because Pete has always been an easygoing and approachable guy. I said: "Listen, Pete's got seven of those trophies, I've got one, so don't feel bad for him, be happy for me!"
Beating Pete in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in 1996 felt amazing, but I knew it would mean nothing if I would have lost in the next round. It wasn't over yet. I wanted the whole Championship. Winning Wimbledon changed my life. I'm not a tattoo kind of guy, but I can understand why Goran has 'Wimbledon Champion' tattooed on his back. It's just the highest high.