Michaëlla Krajicek, a former professional tennis player, is preparing for her official farewell to the sport in 2025. Krajicek, who debuted in professional tennis in Rosmalen in 2003, reflects on her career, her family, and her passions outside of tennis.

Krajicek discusses her name, clarifying that while she introduces herself as Misa for simplicity, her full name is Michaëlla, which she considers more elegant. She also shares insights into her personal life, revealing that her family and close friends call her Misa, while her boyfriend uses various nicknames, reserving the use of “Jelle and Misa” for serious disagreements.

Reflecting on her career highlights, Krajicek emphasizes the significance of Wimbledon, both for its personal connection to her family and her own quarter-final appearance. She reminisces about watching her half-brother, Richard Krajicek, win the tournament as a child, an experience that deeply impacted her.

While acknowledging her early success, Krajicek expresses a preference for a more evenly paced career. She acknowledges the challenges of balancing motherhood with professional tennis, ultimately leading to her decision to prioritize her family.

Krajicek also touches upon the physical adversity she faced throughout her career, including six operations on her right knee. She believes these challenges have made her stronger, both on and off the court, teaching her valuable lessons about resilience and self-awareness.

Beyond tennis, Krajicek reveals her passion for art, a hobby she has pursued since childhood. She finds creativity fulfilling and has explored various artistic mediums. Krajicek reflects on her relationship with her father, acknowledging his strict approach but emphasizing his unwavering support and belief in her potential.

Regarding her famous brother, Richard, Krajicek dismisses any pressure from his success, expressing admiration for his achievements while focusing on her own journey. She recounts a surreal experience of giving tennis lessons to Gavin Rossdale at Gwen Stefani’s house in Beverly Hills, highlighting the unexpected opportunities that arose from her tennis career.

Krajicek, who lives with her partner Jelle Sels and their two sons, Valentijn and Romeo, in Alphen aan den Rijn, plans to officially bid farewell to professional tennis in 2025.