The tall (6' 5") Dutchman, Richard Krajicek, turned professional in 1989 and in 1990 won his first two singles titles, moving up to No. 129 in the world rankings in the process. The following year, unseeded, he reached the last 16 at the Australian Open but was then beaten by Caratti 6-3, 6-4, 6-7, 3-6, 6-4. Later that year he won his first tour title at Hong Kong, beating Wally Masur in the final. In 1992 he reached the first Grand Slam semifinal of his career at the Australian Open by beating Michael Stich 5-7, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4 in the quarters but had to pull out of the semifinal showdown with Jim Courier due to a shoulder injury. He reached the semifinal of the Sydney Indoor tournament and after this he became the first Dutchman since Tom Okker to be in the top 20 of the World Rankings and by the end of the year he was in the Top 10. The Dutchman won only one title in 1993, at Los Angeles, but he also reached the semifinal stage at the French Open, where he lost to American Jim Courier 6-1, 6-7, 7-5, 6-2. He was unable to play during the last two months of the year as he had tendinitis in both knees. Because of this he did not play again until March the following year and his first singles tournament win of the year came in April, on clay in Barcelona, against Sergei Bruguera. Krajicek's first grass court success was at Rosmalen in June 1994 whilst in September he won the Sydney Indoor tournament. The following year proved to be not particularly successful as he won only two minor tournaments. (KVH)