 Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 12 Sep 2004 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 12 Sep 2004 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 12 Sep 2004 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 12 Sep 2004 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 12 Sep 2004 |  Photographer: Susan Mullane
Date: 12 Sep 2004 |
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| 12 Sep 2004 - New York - Eleanor Preston | |
| Krajicek gets second chance to shine |
Michaela Krajicek gave herself a second crack at the US Open girls’ title she missed out on last year by beating Viktoria Azarenka 16 76 64 in the semifinals on Saturday.
”I’m so tired but I’ll be revived by the final,” said Krajicek, who had to come from a set and 4-5 down against Azarenka in a battling performance. “I was a bit lucky and I have to say because I think she was a little bit nervous but sometimes you need luck. I’m very, very happy to be in the final again. It means a lot to me because there are a lot of great players out there and every year it gets tougher. To do it twice in a row is very special.”
Krajicek, who was runner-up to Belgium’s Kirsten Flipkens twelve months ago, now plays the USA’s Jessica Kirkland after the Ohio-native beat Australian Open champion Shahar Peer of Israel 62 46 62.
“I know Shahar is a great player but if I was confident enough I thought I could do it,” said Kirkland. “I had nothing to lose against her because she was the Australian Open champion and she was second seed.”
Kirkland’s family moved to Miami’s water-side neighbourhood of Coconut Grove in March in order to help her game and so far it’s worked. The family were all here to see her beat Peer and will doubtless be courtside again when she takes on Krajicek.
“It feels great to make the final because junior grand slams are very high quality tennis,” she said. “Michaella is a great player so I’ll just have to go out there and try my best.”
Great Britain’s Andrew Murray and Ukraine’s Sergiy Stakhovsky will be doing much the same when they contest the boys’ final. Murray beat Germany’s Michael Zverev 63 62 while Stakhovsky scored a surprise 64 75 win over another German, second seed Andreas Beck.
“I didn’t make a great start but once I got going I was fine,” said Murray, who has dropped just one set en route to the final. “It’s great to get to the final because the US Open is my favourite grand slam. Wimbledon is at home but the crowds are much noisier here and they create a really good atmosphere to play in. It’s nice to be around the professional players and be in these surroundings.”
Murray has been receiving tips from men’s semifinalist Tim Henman, who has been acting as a mentor to the 17-year-old this week. The pair has been passing the time by playing on the mini-golf machine in the Players’ Lounge at the USTA National Tennis Centre. Henman is a two handicap golfer but Murray is happy to boast that he has beaten the World No.6 more than once.
“It’s great for him to be in the final here,” said Henman. “He’s taking some very big strides and that’s very important. Not only in his game, but between the ears, he knows what he’s doing. He works hard too and I think that’s a good combination.”
Stakhovsky recalled that he and Murray had met previously when they were much younger.
“We played when Andy was 13 and I was 14 and he beat me, but Beck also beat me when I was 14, so hopefully I can get my revenge on Murray like I did with Beck today.”
In the boys’ doubles final Americans Brendan Evans and Scott Oudsema were crowned US Open champions after a 46 61 62 victory over Beck and his compatriot Sebastian Reischick. The Americans added their home Grand Slam to the Australian Open and Wimbledon titles they have already won this year.
“It’s great to win the title, especially after we didn’t get the chance to play doubles last year. It was fun playing in front of the American fans.”
In the girls’ Krajicek got her final weekend off to the perfect start by picking up the doubles title with her partner, New Zealand’s Marina Erakovic. The pair beat Romanians Monica Niculescu and Madalina Gojnea 76 60.
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