On the age of 14, Krajicek enrolled within the IMG Academy in Bradenton, the place Nick Bollettieri famously spawned future champions below the usually stifling Florida solar. At age 18, Krajicek gained the U.S. Junior Nationwide Championship in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and flirted with turning professional. As a substitute, he selected to go to Texas A&M, to offer his physique and his recreation just a few extra years to develop. In 2011, he gained the NCAA males’s doubles title.
Then it was time to go play for his subsequent meal.
The journey to the most important tennis leagues has just a few stops in main world capitals like Paris and London, however gamers can spend many extra nights in locations like Binghamton, NY; Aptos, California; Rimouski, Quebec; and Gimcheon, South Korea. There are horrible inns, lots of dangerous meals and lots of empty stands. Or no stands in any respect.
Krajicek was a newly minted professional taking part in in a minor event in Champaign, Illinois, when he met Kedzierski, a senior tennis participant on the College of Illinois. A pal of Kedzierski’s had a crush on Krajicek, however was too nervous to succeed in out. Kedzierski received his quantity and texted him on behalf of her boyfriend solely to seek out out that Krajicek was excited about Kedzierski.
Two months later, they’d their first dinner in Maui after they realized they have been each there for tennis matches. Good man, she thought.
After commencement, she moved to Los Angeles to work for a stylist within the leisure enterprise. A masterful couchsurfer who usually stayed within the trip properties of rich tennis boosters, Krajicek used Los Angeles as a coaching base. He first stayed at Kedzierski’s home, confirmed up together with his tennis bag and a briefcase, skilled for every week or two, after which hit the highway once more.