Filip Krajinovic displays on retirement: ‘It was not straightforward to say goodbye’ | ATP Tour

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Krajinovic displays on retirement: ‘It was not straightforward to say goodbye’

5-time ATP Tour finalist speaks completely to ATPTour.com

August 21, 2024

Filip Krajinovic known as the state of affairs he was in Monday night “unusual”. The previous No. 26 participant within the PIF ATP Rankings was emotional throughout his first-round qualifying match in opposition to Jurij Rodionov on the US Open to the purpose that he struggled to play.

Rodionov received 6-4, 6-2 in an easy 71 minutes. His Serbian opponent was not emotional as a result of he was dropping, however as a result of the 32-year-old knew it was the tip of his tennis journey. The defeat marked the ultimate match of Krajinovic’s standout profession.

“I used to be struggling for the previous yr and a half, considering what to do. I used to be not pleased with my type. I used to be not pleased with my physique, and I did not play the extent I needed. I dropped quite a bit. I made a decision to complete after the US Open,” Krajinovic instructed ATPTour.com. “I used to be actually, actually unhappy [Monday]. I could not actually even play. I used to be crying on the courtroom as a result of the entire life you are taking part in and also you’re competing, so it was not straightforward to say goodbye, however on the similar time, I am comfortable that now I am free.”

Krajinovic set excessive requirements for himself. It was one of many causes he cracked the world’s High 30, reached 5 ATP Tour finals and defeated 4 High 10 opponents. However previously couple of years he has not been in a position to keep the extent he has been used to for a lot of his profession.

The Serbian struggled with a wrist harm, broke a finger and handled “a few little issues”. As that occurred, he realised that bodily he was not fairly as fast, which made a distinction on courtroom. With that got here a slide within the PIF ATP Rankings.

“Whenever you drop to play small tournaments, motivation isn’t the identical. I simply did not really feel proper, I did not really feel properly, and I used to be not hungry sufficient,” Krajinovic mentioned. “For those who’re not 100 per cent into it, there is not any probability you may return the place I needed to be. So I felt like I used to be not having fun with it and I noticed like this that I used to be not going to be the place I needed to be, which is High 50 for certain.”

After Roland Garros this yr, Krajinovic determined he would play for a few extra months and retire after the US Open. Regardless of the loss, it was a particular second on Courtroom 4. A lot of Krajinovic’s closest mates, together with Dusan Lajovic, Miomir Kecmanovic, Nikola Cacic and Serbian Davis Cup captain Viktor Troicki stayed late into the night time to help him.

“These are my greatest and greatest mates. I actually love them,” Krajinovic mentioned. “They stayed all day there to look at me and say goodbye. It was very nice.”

All of them took to social media to congratulate their good friend on his accomplishments, which had been plentiful.

The second that stands out to him essentially the most is his run to the ultimate of the 2017 Rolex Paris Masters, his lone championship match at an ATP Masters 1000 occasion. World No. 77 on the time, Krajinovic certified, then defeated High 15 gamers Sam Querrey and John Isner to earn the precise to play for the trophy.

However that was removed from his solely second within the highlight. Krajinovic had the sport to problem anybody on Tour on his day. The Serbian claimed his two Lexus ATP Head2Head conferences in opposition to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and defeated the likes of Daniil Medvedev and Tomas Berdych.

In 2020, he earned one of the spectacular victories of his profession on the venue the place he finally retired: the USTA Billie Jean King Nationwide Tennis Middle. That yr, the Cincinnati ATP Masters 1000 event was held in New York due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Krajinovic throttled Dominic Thiem 6-2, 6-1. Two weeks later, the Austrian received the US Open.

“I’m very proud. I am very pleased with my profession,” Krajinovic mentioned. “The one factor the place I am a bit bit unhappy is I did not win an ATP Filip Krajinovic displays on retirement: ‘It was not straightforward to say goodbye’ | ATP Tour. I had 5 finals, 5 powerful finals. That is the one factor I needed to have, however did not occur for some purpose. However the whole lot else I might signal [for] as a result of I feel I performed the best way I needed. I had superb outcomes and my highest was 26, which I actually recognize. I left the courtroom comfortable, as a result of I feel that I did properly.”

For now, Krajinovic wish to take a while for himself again in Serbia to relaxation and consider what shall be subsequent. However the 32-year-old expects to stay in tennis after dedicating his life to the game for therefore a few years.

When Krajinovic was 14 years outdated, he left Serbia for Florida to coach on the IMG Academy and chase his dream of changing into knowledgeable tennis participant. Observe companions included Kei Nishikori, Max Mirnyi and Radek Stepanek, who had the extent he someday hoped to succeed in.

Almost 20 years later, on the finish of a standout profession on the ATP Tour, he’s making ready to fly to Bradenton as soon as extra to go to the place the place his journey started.

“It was not straightforward. I got here to the States once I was 14, alone, with out anyone. I went to that Academy [and] I did not know something. I did not know the best way to converse English, in order that was my greatest downside once I went there,” Krajinovic mentioned. “It was laborious, however on the similar time it was very, superb, as a result of I knew that was my alternative to enhance and to practise with these guys. It was unbelievable.”