Aaron Krickstein

Infobox Tennis player
playername= Aaron Krickstein


country= USA
residence= Grosse Pointe, Michigan U.S.
datebirth= birth date and age|1967|8|2
placebirth= Ann Arbor, Michigan U.S.
height= height|m=1.82
weight= convert|72|kg|lb st|abbr=on
turnedpro= 1983
retired=1996
plays= Right
careerprizemoney= US$3,710,447
singlesrecord= 395–256
singlestitles= 9
highestsinglesranking= No. 6 (February 26, 1990)
AustralianOpenresult= SF (1995)
FrenchOpenresult= 4R (1985, 1994)
Wimbledonresult= 4R (1989, 1995)
USOpenresult= SF (1989)
doublesrecord= 10–19
doublestitles= 0
highestdoublesranking= No. 196 (February 25, 1985)
updated = March 14, 2008

Aaron Krickstein (born August 2, 1967) is an American former professional tennis player on the ATP Tour who competed from 1983 to 1996. Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, he currently competes on the Outback Champions Series Over-30 tour.

Krickstein reached his career high ATP ranking of World No. 6, on February 26, 1990. He achieved this ranking on the back of wins in Sydney and Los Angeles, as well as his best ever results at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.

Career

Junior

Krickstein began playing tennis when he was six years old.

He became an active competitor on the high school tennis scene during his teens, and still holds the Michigan record for most consecutive match wins in at this level (56); he played for University Liggett School [http://www.mhsaa.com/games/recbte.html] . He also won the American National Under 16 championship in 1982.

While still only 16, he was the US National Junior Tennis Association Champion, Clay Champion, and USTA National Champion in the 18s in 1983. [http://ustaboys.com/tournament/past_winners.php]

Professional

Krickstein set and still holds ATP records for being the youngest player ever to win a singles title on the ATP Tour (at age 16, 2 months after his 16th birthday, in Tel Aviv), and for being the youngest player to ever break the top 10 (at age 17).

His best finishes in a Grand Slam event were at the 1989 US Open, and the Australian Open in 1995, where he reached the semifinals.

He had a record of 10 career wins from 0–2 set deficits. Krickstein was nicknamed "Marathon Man" because of his ability to come from behind. [ [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=GWE_lEPfHpIC&pg=PA173&lpg=PA173&dq=krickstein+marathon+man&source=web&ots=LIDp2arYcg&sig=knxBbow1ds7kblQWjKNFF-gN_rU&hl=en Great Jews in Sports] ]

He had an injury-plagued career, which included stress fractures in both feet, knee and wrist problems in 1985 and 1986, and injuries suffered when he was side-swiped by a New York City taxi in 1987.

He defeated a number of top players when they were at the very top of their game. He beat Ivan Lendl (world #1) in 1990, Michael Stich (#2 and 4) in 1994 and 1991, #3 Stefan Edberg in 1988 and Boris Becker in 1992, #4 Mats Wilander in 1984, and # 5 Jimmy Arias in 1984 and Sergi Bruguera in 1994. He also amassed wins over Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi.

Krickstein was able to hold a place in the world's Top 10 for five years over the course of his 13 years on Tour.

Notable matches

Krickstein was known for his mental toughness and tenaciousness. Possibly due to those characteristics, many of his most famous matches went the distance.

In his first appearance at the U.S. Open, he outlasted both Stefan Edberg and Vitas Gerulaitis in five-set matches.

He won 28 times in five-set matches, losing only 8 times (10 times he won after trailing by two sets). [http://www.arfoundation.org/news/celebs] His career record in 5 set matches is second only to Björn Borg, and first among all American players who have played more than 10 5-set matches.

Krickstein's most notable comeback was against Stefan Edberg in the 1995 Australian Open, when he was down two sets and won the match to eventually reach the semifinals.

But his most famous match was a defeat at the hands of Jimmy Connors. Krickstein was 0–7 lifetime against Connors, and until that match in the round of 16 at the 1991 US Open, had never even managed to take a set from Connors. In a see-saw battle, Krickstein succumbed, 6–3, 6–7(10), 6–1, 3–6, 6–7(4), despite leading 5–2 in the final set.

Davis Cup

He was a member of the United States Davis Cup team from 1985-87, and also was a member of the 1990 squad. He compiled a 6–4 record in singles play during Davis Cup ties. [http://www.daviscup.com/teams/player.asp?player=10000733] The highlight of Krickstein's Davis Cup career came in 1990 when he scored two hard-fought victories in a World Group Quarterfinal tie against Czechoslovakia, leading his team to a 4–1 win.

Miscellaneous

*Krickstein's niece is golfer Morgan Pressel. In May 2001, she became the youngest female to qualify for the U.S. Women's Open golf tournament at the age of 12, and at 18, became the youngest LPGA major winner (2007 Kraft Nabisco Championship).

*Krickstein, who is Jewish, is the grandson of a rabbi.

ATP Tour titles

ingles (9)

References

External links

*ATP|id=K023
*ITF male profile|number=10000733
*DavisCupplayerlink|id=10000733
* [http://championsseriestennis.com/index.php?page=player10 Outback Champions Series bio]
* [http://www.jewsinsports.org/profile.asp?sport=tennis&ID=27 Jews in Sports bio]