Double duty for Krajicek at the BMW Malaysian Open
Tennis fans who have been going to the Bukit Kiara Equestrian and Country Resort for the on-going BMW Malaysia Open 2011 would have taken notice of 22-year old Michaëlla Krajicek for her good looks, her contagious smile, her warm personality, and off course, her surname.
But there is more than meets the eye where this blonde is concerned. Michaella is the younger half-sister of former Dutch number 1 and Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek, and because of this, she has been given the nickname of Kleine Kraai, (Little Kraai).
Michaella is an attractive woman without a doubt, but she is not just a pretty face, as she is a talented Dutch professional tennis player with a strong will to succeed on the WTA pro circuit. Her highest WTA singles ranking has been number 30, achieved three years ago back in 2008. Currently she is ranked number 150 in the world.
Krajicek commented on having Richard as her brother, “My brother Richard has influenced and helped me a lot with my tennis career, for which I am grateful for, as he was an accomplished, top tennis player during his prime. I hope to train with him if possible and if time permits, as I am always open to any means or ways in improving my game”.
Krajicek has described herself as an All-court player, stating that she is comfortable playing on any surface, be it hard court, grass, clay or carpet. Her favourite aspect of the game is the serve, which she continuously strives to better and improve. Krajicek is coached by Allistair McCaw. Her favourite tournament is the Ordina Open in Hertogenbosch, and it is her favourite because it's at home in Holland and on grass.
Krajicek has said that even though she may seem relaxed and laid back, she is a self-described perfectionist, ambitious yet humble, and spontaneous even in certain instances. She lists her goals as staying fit and healthy so that she can play her beloved sport consistently and to the best of her ability. She is also bent on breaking into the World’s Top 10, as well as staying happy and cheerful.
“I have been training hard and undergoing conditioning to improve on my fitness as I want to be in the best possible shape going into a match, and with the weather here in Malaysia especially warm, I do not want to be tired or exhausted during a match. I feel good coming into the BMW Malaysian Open as I feel both fitter and better, so I hope to do well here in both the singles and doubles competition”, said an optimistic Krajicek.
In 2002, as a 13 year old, Krajicek was included in the Dutch team for the Cesky Telecom World Junior Tennis final. She was the number 1 ranked junior player in Europe at the time. Krajicek led her country to victory over Poland in the final winning both her singles and doubles matches en route to a 3–0 win for The Netherlands.
In 2003, Krajicek was named in the Dutch Junior Fed Cup team, a competition The Netherlands had not won since 1990. Michaëlla was undefeated throughout the tournament as the top seeded Dutch team won, beating Canada 2–1 in the final.
2004 was a very successful year for her and her most successful to date. Krajicek and her then fellow junior doubles partner Bohmova succeeded at the prestigious French Open on Roland Garros when they won their first Grand Slam Junior Doubles title.
Krajicek tasted sweet success when she finally won her maiden singles Junior Grand Slam at the US Open, making her the first Dutch winner of the event in 10 years. She ended the year as the 2004 ITF Junior World Champion and world number 1 junior, becoming the first Dutch player to become a Junior World Champion.
2006 was also a good year for Krajicek as she broke into the World’s top 50, achieving a career-high ranking of world number 43. She won her third career title (and second of the year) at Hertogenbosch, with her famous brother Richard being one of the tournament organisers.
In the semi-final, she beat a top 10 player for the first time, in what she described as the best match of her career, overcoming number 1 seed, and World Number 8 Elena Dementieva. She beat former World number 1 Dinara Safina in the final in straight sets. Krajicek ended the year ranked World number 35.
At the BMW Malaysian Open 2011, Krajicek defeated her doubles partner, German Tatjana Malek in straight sets, 6 – 3, 6 – 2. Her next match is a tricky and difficult one, as she squares off against the defending champion, Russian Alisa Kleybanova on Thursday.
“I will not be overawed in having to face the tournament’s defending champion; in fact, I look forward to playing against the top players. My opponent is someone I know quite well as we’ve played against each other from when we were junior players. My aim and goal remains, to beat my opponent and to advance to the next round”, she said confidently.
In the doubles competition, Krajicek and Malek faced the scratch Asian pair of Japanese Shuko Aoyama and Chan Chin-Wei of Taiwan in the first round today under the hot afternoon sun. However, Krajicek and Malek failed to advance to the next round as the more acclimatised Asian pair of Chan and Aoyama won in straight sets 6 – 3, 6 – 4.
“I know my doubles partner well and I hope we will do well in future doubles events. In the singles competition, although I had to face my doubles partner in the first round, we both understand that this happens and it is part and parcel of the game and the draw,” she said without batting an eyelid.
The BMW Malaysian Open 2011, a leg of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour – the world’s leading professional sport for women is being held from 28th February to 6th March 2011 at the Bukit Kiara Equestrian and Country Resort. The tournament has 32 singles players and 16 doubles teams’ competing in a knockout style competition for the prize purse of USD 220,000.00.
Tickets for the tournament can be obtained from TicketPro through their website at www.ticketpro.com.my or by calling +603 7880 7999. For ticket prices and other information log on to the official website of the tournament at www.bmwmalaysianopen.com.
