The day after his second-round victory, Richard Krajicek walks the streets of Wimbledon Village as if no one knows his name. Or at least as if they've forgotten. Which it seems they have.

Krajicek, who hasn't played a Grand Slam tournament in more than a year and a half, is still recovering from elbow surgery. His doctors don't want him to play much for the next few months. "I'm stiff," the 30-year-old Dutchman said Thursday, with his personal trainer in tow.

Coming into the tournament, Krajicek had just wanted to win his first-round match, which was more a lofty goal than an easy first step. And now ... he's in the fourth round, having blown past Paradorn Srichaphan in the third round on Friday.

Richard Krajicek is back.

The only former men's champ still in the tournament, the 1996 winner has been far from the headlines. While Krajicek was winning Wednesday, Agassi, Sampras and Safin weren't, giving reporters here plenty to write about. Steffi Graf and Agassi made the front pages of several papers, and Sampras' alleged "love letter" from his wife filled The Sun.

Krajicek's win occupied only a small column, including praise from opponent James Blake ("There are not many people who could take a year and a half off and come back and play at such a high level."), and no mention of Krajicek's personal life.

"For once they have nothing to say about me," the Dutchman laughs. "That's good."

Nothing to say because for the last 19 months, Krajicek's been at home in The Netherlands with his wife Daphne, who played a bit part in 007's Tomorrow Never Dies, and their two kids, Alec and Emma. A criminal law student, Krajicek's also been busy getting a boat driver's license, a life far removed from the Grand Slams.

"Spending time at home waiting to get better is flat, not like when I'm playing and going through the highs and lows, the ups and downs. It's good to have those ups and downs. Lots of surprises."

There may be more to come.

Shelly Gepfert is a frequent contributor to ESPN The Magazine.