Johan Kriek facts for kids
| Country (sports) |  South Africa United States (1982–) |
|---|---|
| Residence | Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Florida, U.S. |
| Born | April 5, 1958 Pongola, South Africa |
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) |
| Turned pro | 1978 |
| Retired | 1994 |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Prize money | $2,383,794 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 376–222 (62.88%) (62.9%) |
| Career titles | 14 |
| Highest ranking | No. 7 (September 10, 1984) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | W (1981, 1982) |
| French Open | SF (1986) |
| Wimbledon | QF (1981, 1982) |
| US Open | SF (1980) |
| Other tournaments | |
| Tour Finals | QF (1982, 1983, 1984, 1985) |
| WCT Finals | F (1981) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 206–173 (54.4%) |
| Career titles | 8 |
| Highest ranking | No. 12 (August 15, 1988) |
Johan Christiaan Kriek (born April 5, 1958) is a former professional tennis player. He was born in South Africa and later became an American citizen. Johan Kriek is famous for winning two Australian Open titles. He also reached the semifinals at the French Open and US Open. He made it to the quarterfinals of the Wimbledon Championships.
Kriek won a total of 14 singles titles and eight doubles titles during his career. His highest ranking in singles was world No. 7, which he achieved in September 1984.
Contents
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Johan Kriek was born in Pongola, South Africa. He went to Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool, a public school in Pretoria. He started his professional tennis career in 1978.
In August 1982, Johan Kriek became a citizen of the United States. He lives in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida with his wife, Daga, and their children, Karolina and Kristian.
Grand Slam Success
A Grand Slam tournament is one of the four biggest events in tennis. These are the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open. Winning a Grand Slam is a huge achievement for any tennis player.
Winning the Australian Open
Johan Kriek won the Australian Open singles title twice in a row.
- In 1981, he won against Steve Denton from the USA. The final score was 6–2, 7–6, 6–7, 6–4.
- In 1982, he played Steve Denton again in the final. Kriek won this match with a score of 6–3, 6–3, 6–2.
These two wins showed he was one of the best players in the world.
Other Grand Slam Achievements
Besides his Australian Open victories, Kriek also had strong performances in other Grand Slam tournaments:
- He reached the semifinals of the US Open in 1980.
- He also made it to the semifinals of the French Open in 1986.
- At Wimbledon, he reached the quarterfinals twice, in 1981 and 1982.
Career Highlights and Rankings
Throughout his career, Johan Kriek won many tournaments. He won 14 singles titles and 8 doubles titles. His highest singles ranking was world No. 7 in September 1984. This means he was among the top ten tennis players globally at that time. He retired from professional tennis in 1994.
See also
In Spanish: Johan Kriek para niños
