Richard Krajicek probably would have retired had he known what would be in his rearview mirror now. Three knee surgeries. Elbow surgery. Twenty months between matches.

        “It kept going in stages of, "Three, four more months and I'll be OK,' but then I'd again (have) disappointment,” the 30-year-old Dutchman said. “If I knew it'd take 20 months, I probably would have thrown in the towel.”

        He didn't, and now he's back to playing, and winning. Krajicek beat Mark Philippoussis 7-6 (7), 6-2 Wednesday at the Western & Southern Financial Masters, after beating No.13 seed Jiri Novak in the first round.

        He'll meet unseeded Fernando Gonzalez today in the round of 16.

        “I am getting into the groove tennis-wise ... but I am still at that stage that I am really looking, literally, match to match,” Krajicek said.

        He returned June 16 in a tuneup for Wimbledon, his first match after the 20-month layoff for a damaged tendon in his elbow.

        Krajicek was ranked No. 4 in 1999.

        About half of his 2000 season was cut short because of elbow and knee surgery. He ended that season ranked 36th, his first year out of the top 20 since 1991.

        The elbow injury gave Krajicek what he calls “black moments” and had him contemplating retirement as recently as May.

        His coach, Rohan Goetske, said at Wimbledon: “Richard was down and I had to push him, but things weren't looking good, so I had to be careful. There wasn't too much to kick (for inspiration) anymore. It was the most difficult time I have known with him.”

        Krajicek rediscovered his form at Wimbledon, an event he won in 1996. He won four matches, including beating James Blake 11-9 in the fifth set and Philippoussis in a 6-7, 7-6, 6-7, 7-6, 6-4 epic that was completed three days after it started. Krajicek fell to Xavier Malisse 9-7 in the fifth set in the quarterfinals.

        Krajicek's ranking climbed from No. 1,093 to No. 153 in one tournament. He earned his place in the Masters with an injury exemption.

        “I love to compete,” Krajicek said. “I have to play at least until the end of next year to really give myself a reward for all the work I put in, all the rehab.”

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