ROSMALEN, Netherlands (AP) -- Richard Krajicek retired Thursday because of
elbow pain, ending a career in which he won Wimbledon in 1996 and was one
of the hardest servers in tennis.
The 31-year-old Dutchman leaves the sport two days after losing in the first
round at a tournament in his home country. He said he has ``lost the fight
for my health.''
Krajicek said he has received extensive medical treatment and cortisone
shots. But he said the pain in his right elbow made it difficult for him
to function in daily life.
``I want to have the feeling that I can win,'' he said, holding back tears.
``But if my arm starts to hurt after a few service games, that's not
realistic. That's why I've decided to stop.
``I achieved more and reached higher in the world ranks than I had ever
dreamed as a child.''
Krajicek spent 14 years as a professional. He won 17 international
tournaments, with career earnings of more than $10 million, and reached
No. 4 in the rankings. At 6-foot-5 and with a booming serve, he always
was a threat to zip an ace by an opponent.
``But for all the success, I paid a high price,'' he said. ``Three knee
operations, one elbow operation, one foot operation, and countless months
and even years of rehabilitation. But despite all the problems, I returned
again and again because my heart was with tennis.''
He was sidelined for more than a year following elbow surgery in March
2001 and missed another four months with a foot injury at the end of
last year.
After Tuesday's 6-4, 7-6 (4) loss to Oliver Mutis in Rosmalen, Krajicek
pulled out of Wimbledon, complaining of elbow pain.
Krajicek hoped to compete there one last time, where he won his greatest
victory came in 1996. His victory interrupted a Wimbledon streak by Pete
Sampras, who won the three previous years and four years after Krajicek's
title
``It's a great sorrow to me that I wasn't granted even my final goal,''
he said.
Krajicek will spend the next few weeks on vacation with his family, but
said it would be hard to adjust to life without tennis.
He said he will concentrate on his foundation, which funds tennis and
soccer programs for poor children, and his role as director of the ABN
Amro tennis tournament in Rotterdam.
``Tennis is all I ever wanted to do,'' he said. ``The competition, the
battle on the court, was the most beautiful thing in the world.''
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