News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
PARIS – Texas A&M Athletics Hall of Famer Austin Krajicek took silver at the 2024 Paris Olympics in men’s doubles alongside partner Rajeev Ram on Saturday at Roland-Garros Stadium after falling in an epic match versus the Australian pair of Matthew Ebden and John Peers.
Krajicek became the first player in program history to medal at the Olympic Games and brought the United States its first medal in men’s doubles since 2012. Team USA fell to the Aussies in a three-set thriller, 7-6 (8-6), 6-7 (1-7), 8-10, in the gold medal match.
“We left it all out there,” Krajicek said on the Olympic broadcast. “I thought we played a pretty good match for the most part and gave ourselves a chance there at the end, but that’s tennis. It’s a wicked sport and a tough way to make a living, but it was an honor to be out there representing the USA. What an opportunity to be had, and it is still an honor to bring home a silver.”
The Americans jumped out to a 4-2 advantage in both the first and second sets. In the first frame, the Aussies battled back to 4-4 and the teams went back-and-forth to force a tiebreaker. The decider also teetered, but Team USA prevailed, 7-6 (8-6). The second set saw Australia win three-consecutive games after the two-game hole to take a 5-4 lead. Krajicek and Ram stayed in the fight, forcing another tiebreaker. However, Ebden and Peers took control and won the set, 7-6 (7-1).
Australia rode that advantage into the third and deciding set to a commanding 9-5 lead. Team USA fended off three match points, but ultimately fell to claim silver, 8-10. Krajicek now boasts a 7-3 record in Olympic play between his outings at the 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Games.
Krajicek lettered for the Aggies from 2008-11 and was inducted into the Texas A&M Athletics Hall of Fame in 2021. He won the 2011 NCAA Doubles Championship and was a four-time doubles All-American. The Brandon, Florida, native won the 2023 French Open to claim the first Grand Slam Title of his career.
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