1 Response to antwerp86arias_krickstein

1. Voo de Mar says:

   February 23, 2024 at 10:53 am

   Points won by each set: | 28-14, 20-28, 34-27 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   12 % Arias – 9 of 71
   17 % Krickstein – 14 of 80

   Just the second round of an exhibition event, but I decided to compile these statistics for two reasons:
   – I have better coverage of the year 1985 than 1986
   – Arias and Krickstein were the first “products” of the famous “Nick Bollettieri Academy” in Florida, projected multiple major champions
   (neither of them reached a Slam final)
   The academy was founded in 1978, Arias and Krickstein met there two years later. Krickstein was just 13, while Arias, three years older, began his professional career then. “If it had not been for the academy, I probably would never have met Jimmy, or become so close to him over the years. Jimmy was Nick’s big up-and-coming prodigy, the young buck on the horizon,” Krickstein recalled. “It was a great opportunity for me to learn from someone who had a great junior career and was making the transition to the pro game. We have stayed close for 35 years.”
   They were both players of their time, using modern equipment to produce topspin forehands (Arias switched to graphite after US Open ’84), giving them an edge over older players who were still using wooden rackets. Arias made quick progress, and he reached no. 5 in the world in May of 1984. This was very encouraging for Krickstein, who was training with him, and served as a big boost to his self-confidence. At the age of 16, Krickstein became the youngest winner of a Grand Prix event (the ATP predecessor), and soon afterward, he advanced to the Top 20. There was a moment when 20-year-old Arias was a Top 10 player, while 17-year-old Krickstein was in the Top 20. It seemed in 1984 that both of them would replace Connors and McEnroe as the best American players in the second half of the 80s. However, this did not happen, and a title of the best American born in the 60s goes to Tim Mayotte.
   …when they met in Antwerp, these youngsters, 22-year-old Arias [36] and 19-year-old Krickstein [24] were already past their prime! Krickstein still had his best Grand Slam results ahead of him though. During their match in Belgium, Arias had to run a lot. He led *4:1 in the decider, but Krickstein narrowed it to 3:4 (deuce), only to make some costly errors. Including this match to their rivalry, Arias edged it 4-3.

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