May 17, 2010
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - For the second consecutive year, Texas A&M men's tennis All-American Austin Krajicek (pronounced CRY-check) was tabbed the ITA Texas Region Player To Watch by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association on Monday.
Krajicek, a junior left-hander from Brandon, Fla., is currently ranked No. 6 in the nation in singles and No. 5 in doubles. He holds the distinction of being one of only two four-time All-Americans in school history next to former great Shuon Madden (1998-2001). Krajicek automatically earned All-America honors as one of 16 seeded players in the upcoming NCAA Singles Championship draw to be played next week on the campus of host University of Georgia at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, Ga., and one of eight seeded teams in the NCAA Doubles Championship draw.
The reigning co-Big 12 Conference Player of the Year is the second-highest ranked A&M player to ever vie for a national title in singles. Krajicek is one win away from recording a 20-win dual season with an impressive 19-6 record at No. 1 singles. He has defeated 14 nationally-ranked opponents including the No. 5, No. 6, No. 7, No. 11, No. 14, No. 15, No. 19 and No. 20 players in the country.
During the regular season, the 19-year-old was ranked as high as No. 5 in singles and No. 4 in doubles in the Campbell/ITA rankings. Krajicek is only the third Aggie in the last decade to be ranked among the top 5 singles players in the nation. He was named Big 12 Player of the Week twice on March 30 and April 13 leading the Aggies to a notable 6-1 upset of then-No. 9 Baylor on April 7. In addition, Krajicek was one of six top American collegians to lead the United States to the Master'U BNP Paribas Team team title in France in December of 2009.
One player from each of the 12 ITA regions received the award which is presented to a student-athlete who has an outstanding season and is expected to perform at a high level the rest of his career. The player's sportsmanship and character is also considered. The 12 regional winners will now be in contention for the national award to be presented on May 25.