Former Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek says Sania Mirza can trigger an Asian revolution in tennis with the sport looking to grow beyond its traditional base.
"Yes, Asia can be a new, big market for tennis. What you need is a start. Someone like Sania can provide that local start, then the game can become big," Krajicek, the 1996 Wimbledon singles winner from the Netherlands, said.
"Sania can help other players. She has just turned 19, and has already reached 31. Everyone needs a role model, needs someone to look up to. Sania can provide that."
Krajicek, the only Dutchman to win at the All England club, said tennis in Europe does not enjoy the corporate support it did a few years ago, but the growing economies of Asia, like India and China, could provide the game that support.
"There is sponsorship but it is not like we have 20 companies coming to support an event. Football has the most sponsors, but still we are in a good situation. But 10 years back, tennis was very big," he said.
Krajicek is in Delhi to promote the US $15,000 'ABN Amro Tennis Challenge' men's event, to be played on December 3-4. The two-day event will feature the eight best Indian players, with the winner getting a qualifying round wild card for the ATP Tour event in Rotterdam in February next year.
"In Holland, we switch off the telephones. But I guess here it's normal," the 6'5" tall Dutchman remarked with a smile as the continuous ringing of mobile phones interrupted him.
Son of Czech immigrant parents, Krajicek took to tennis at the age of four. He switched from double-fisted to single-handed backhand at 12.
Krajicek, who will turn 34 two days after the Indian Challenge event next month, became pro in 1991. His breakthrough win at Wimbledon included a quarter-final upset of Pete Sampras.
Remembered as one-time Grand Slam winner, he reached a career-high ranking of four towards the end of 1999. He was voted the Most Popular Dutch Sportsman in 1997, and the Dutch Post put him on an official stamp the year after he won at Wimbledon.
After the Wimbledon crown, he underwent an operation on the right knee and was out of action for three months. Two years later, it was the left knee that needed surgery.
He injured the left knee again in 2000, and his attempt at furthering his career was dealt a blow when a damaged tendon on the right elbow put him out of action through 2001.
Krajicek, who has 17 singles titles and four in doubles, said he could have won more Grand Slams had his career not been interrupted by injuries.
"Immediately I should say that I am happy that I won one Grand Slam event," he said. "I expected myself to win two or three more titles but then the injuries happened.
"I started too late (in turning pro) as well. I also took to the modern training methods late, so it was that much hard on the body.
"Also, both my knees had to be operated. And the kind of game I had, with the serve as major weapon, I was serving hard for so many years that my elbow finally gave up.
"The knee injury has been in the family. My father had it, and my sister Michaela (also a tennis player) also has suffered from that.
"But when I look back, it is with peace of mind."
The big serving Dutchman has some unique records. He served 987 aces during the 1997 season, a personal best, and had the highest percentage of serving games won, 89, in 1999.
Krajicek leaned towards Roger Federer in the latest debate pitting the Swiss world number one against 14-time Grand Slam champion Pete Sampras.
"Probably Federer is better than Sampras, but you can't really compare," he said.
"Federer has an all-round game while Sampras was a big serve and volleyer and had a great second serve.
"Sampras was also the number one for a long time. Federer has to go some distance yet. But both are physically and mentally very strong."
Krajicek said the mercurial Russian Marat Safin is the only one who could beat Federer.
"Safin is the best bet to beat Federer at his best," he said.
As one whose big weapon was serve, how did he think he would measure upto Federer?
"I don't think I can compare myself with Federer. Only I can keep up with him on serve and
volley," said Krajicek, who was knighted by the Dutch Queen.
After his playing days, Krajicek has donned the role of Tournament Director. He is associated with the Rotterdam event, the biggest indoor hardcourt event on the ATP Tour with prize-money of 765,000-euros, and will be there in similar position for the Indian Challenge in Delhi next month as well.
Karan Rastogi won the event last year in Mumbai to earn his ticket to Holland.
"Rastogi is a good bet," Krajicek said on the youngster, who has jumped nearly 600 positions in the last 12 months to be ranked 366, the fourth highest-ranked Indian on the pro circuit.
"He needs to improve his serve and forehand, but he has got a strong backhand and the attitude. With more experience, he can go far."
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