May 25, 2011
STANFORD, CA - Texas A&M senior captain and four-year All-American Austin Krajicek displayed great Aggie Spirit in rallying to defeat Marek Michalicka from Wisconsin, 6-7 (8-6), 7-6 (7-3), 6-2, in first round play at the NCAA Singles Championship being held at the Taube Family Tennis Center on the campus of Stanford. Krajicek moves on to the Round of 32 to face none other than defending NCAA Singles Champion Bradley Klahn of Stanford on his home court.
Krajicek (pronounced CRY-check), ranked No. 17 in the latest ITA rankings, avenged an earlier loss (6-3, 6-3) to Michalicka at Wisconsin (Mar. 6). Michalicka is ranked No. 57 and won the opening set in a tiebreaker 7-6 (8-6). Michalicka was ahead 5-4 and serving for the match in the second set and Krajicek showed the tenacity and poise he has shown throughout his career in fighting back to take the second set in a tiebreaker, 7-6 (7-3). Krajicek, the lefthander from Brandon, Florida, built on that momentum to win the third set, 6-2.
"Austin displayed a great deal of fight and determination fighting off match point in the second set," Aggie head coach Steve Denton said. "Once he got to the third set, he had a much higher percentage of first serves and was more aggressive in taking the match. The courts are playing fast and he has to be aggressive."
Krajicek, the 2011 Big 12 Player of the Year, gets another rematch as he faces Stanford's Klahn, seeded No. 9-16. The pair matched up at No. 1 singles in the NCAA Round of 16 team competition last Thursday at Stanford with Klahn taking the match, 6-4, 6-3.
This marks the third consecutive year for the Aggies to have a singles player advance to the Round of 32. Conor Pollock advanced in 2009, Jeff Dadamo advanced last year at Georgia and this year it is Austin Krajicek advancing.
Jeff Dadamo, another Texas A&M senior All-American, drew the top-seed Steve Johnson from the national champion USC squad. Dadamo, from Tampa, Florida, dropped the match, 6-4, 6-2, but fought hard throughout the match.
"Jeff fought hard but he was facing the top-ranked singles player in the country in Steve Johnson and when his serve and forehand are working, they are lethal," Denton said. "Jeff had a couple of opportunities but was unable to take advantage."
The Aggie senior doubles tandem of Krajicek and Dadamo are seeded third in doubles, earning All-America honors for a second straight year, and will begin play on Thursday against Virginia's Alex Domijan and Jarmere Jenkins. Krajicek and Dadamo won the USTA/ITA National Indoor Doubles Championship last fall.
The times of the matches are still to be determined, but doubles play will not begin until all singles matches are completed.
2011 NCAA DIVISION I MEN'S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP
Taube Family Tennis Center, Stanford, California
SINGLES
Wednesday, May 25
(1)Steve Johnson, USC def. (31) Jeff Dadamo, Texas A&M--6-4, 6-2
(17) Austin Krajicek, Texas A&M def. (57) Marek Michalicka, Wisconsin--6-7 (8-6), 7-6 (7-3), 6-2