Elbow Problems Lead to Krajicek’s Retirement

Richard Krajicek retired Thursday because of elbow pain, ending a career in which he won Wimbledon in 1996 and was one of the hardest servers in tennis.

The 31-year-old Dutchman left the sport two days after losing in the first round at a tournament in his home country. He said he had “lost the fight for my health.”

Krajicek said he had received extensive medical treatment and cortisone shots but that the pain in his right elbow made it difficult for him to function in daily life.

“I want to have the feeling that I can win,” he said, holding back tears. “But if my arm starts to hurt after a few service games, that’s not realistic. That’s why I’ve decided to stop.

“I achieved more and reached higher in the world ranks than I had ever dreamed as a child.”

Krajicek spent 14 years as a professional. He won 17 international tournaments, with earnings of more than $10 million, and reached No. 4 in the rankings. At 6 feet 5 and with his booming serve, he always was a threat to zip an ace by an opponent.

“But for all the success, I paid a high price,” he said. “Three knee operations, one elbow operation, one foot operation, and countless months and even years of rehabilitation. But despite all the problems, I returned again and again because my heart was with tennis.”

He was sidelined for more than a year after elbow surgery in March 2001 and missed four more months because of a foot injury at the end of last year.

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Defending champion Chanda Rubin and Jennifer Capriati won quarterfinal matches and will meet in the next round of the Eastbourne tournament at Eastbourne, England.

Conchita Martinez of Spain and Silvia Farina Elia of Italy also reached the semifinals at this final grass-court tuneup before Wimbledon, which starts Monday.

Rubin, seeded second, beat Israel’s Anna Pistolesi, 6-1, 6-0. Capriati, seeded third, downed France’s Nathalie Dechy, 6-1, 7-5.

Martinez, a former Wimbledon champion, defeated fourth-seeded Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia, 6-2, 6-3, and Farina Elia beat eighth-seeded Magdalena Maleeva of Bulgaria, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.

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Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne advanced to the Ordina Open semifinals at Rosmalen, Netherlands.

Clijsters, seeded first, ousted Tina Pisnik, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4). Henin-Hardenne, the defending champion who is seeded second, rallied past Ludmila Cervanova, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Among the men, Jiri Novak downed Olivier Mutis, 6-2, 6-4, in the second round. Novak faces Jan Vacek in the quarterfinals. Vacek upset fifth-seeded Sebastien Grosjean, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.

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Mardy Fish rallied to reach the Samsung Open semifinals at Nottingham, England, and defending champion Jonas Bjorkman advanced when a bad back sidelined his opponent.

Fish beat Alexander Popp, 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4. Bjorkman advanced when seventh-seeded Taylor Dent withdrew before the match because of a back injury.

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Spain’s Albert Costa withdrew from Wimbledon because of a knee injury, the fourth consecutive year the clay-court specialist will miss the tournament. Costa, who won the French Open last year, was seeded 24th at Wimbledon.

Pro Football

Tight end Billy Miller re-signed with the Houston Texans after leading them in receptions in their first season.

Miller played in 16 games and caught 51 passes for 613 yards and three touchdowns.

Miller played two seasons at Denver before signing with the Texans as a free agent.

The New York Jets signed defensive tackle Ryan Wingrove and waived four players. Cut were punter Sean McNicholas, wide receivers Will Glover and Kamau Peterson and defensive end Kenan Blackmon.

Offensive lineman Ben Sobieski, Buffalo’s fifth-round draft pick from Iowa, signed.... The Jacksonville Jaguars waived five players, among them safety Ainsley Battles, who started 15 games the last two seasons. Also cut were wide receiver Henry Douglas, linebacker Jeff Kelly, kicker Damon Duval and offensive lineman Alex Jackson.

Miscellany

Dario Franchitti will have surgery and miss the rest of the Indy Racing League season after breaking a bone in his back in a motorcycle accident in April.

“By having the surgery, I can be back to 100% fitness” for the 2004 season, he said.

Andretti Green Racing has not named a replacement driver for the final 10 races of the IRL’s 16-race schedule.

The NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning signed Eric Perrin of the Finnish Elite League. Terms of the agreement were not released.... The Nashville Predators hired Peter Horachek as an assistant coach and promoted assistant Brent Peterson to associate coach.

Former New York Giant Jeremiah Parker was acquitted of aggravated manslaughter in the death of his girlfriend’s son but found guilty of child endangerment at Paterson, N.J. Parker, who rejected a plea deal that called for a seven-year prison sentence, could receive 10 years when he is sentenced later this year. He could have faced up to 40 years if convicted on all charges.

Chad Carvin and Kaitlin Sandeno won the 800-meter freestyles on the opening day of the TYR Swim Meet of Champions at the Marguerite Recreation Center in Mission Viejo.

Greg Kinnear, Brian Doyle Murray, Judd Nelson, Joe Mantegna, Tom Poston, Kevin Nealon and Keith Carradine are among the celebrities expected to play in a charity golf event Monday at Valencia Country Club. The event benefits the National Breast Cancer Coalition. Details: (734) 662-3442.