Yevgeny Kafelnikov (born 18 February 1974) is a former World No. 1 tennis player from Russia. He won two Grand Slam singles titles (one French Open and one Australian Open), four Grand Slam doubles titles, and the men's singles gold medal at the Sydney Olympic Games. He also helped Russia win the Davis Cup in 2002. He is the last man to have won both the singles and men's doubles titles at the same Grand Slam tournament, which he did at the 1996 French Open. Career Yevgeny Kafelnikov was born in Sochi then part of the RSFSR of Soviet Union.He turned professional in 1992 and won his first top-level singles title in Adelaide in 1994. In 1995, Kafelnikov defeated World No. 1 Andre Agassi in the quarter-finals of the French Open before losing to eventual champion Thomas Muster in the semi-finals. A year later, in 1996, Kafelnikov captured both the singles and the men's doubles titles at the French Open. In the semifinals, Kafelnikov eliminated Pete Samprasand then beat former Wimbledon champion Michael Stich in the final 7–6, 7–5, 7–6. In 1997, Yevgeny Kafelnikov won the men's doubles titles at both the French Open and the US Open. In 1999, Yevgeny Kafelnikov won his second Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open. He defeated Thomas Enqvist in four sets in the final. In May that year, he reached the World No. 1 men's singles ranking. However, he lost seven straight matches thereafter, and relinquished that ranking after six weeks.
In 2002, Kafelnikov was part of the Russian team that won the Davis Cup for the first time. In Russia's semifinal win over Argentina, Kafelnikov saved two match points in a singles rubber against Gaston Gaudio and won the 4 hour, 10 minute match 3–6, 7–5, 6–3, 2–6, 8–6. The following day, he partnered Marat Safin in the longest doubles match in Davis Cup history. The pair eventually lost the 6 hour, 20 minute match 4–6, 4–6, 7–5, 6–3, 17-19. Russia eventually overcame Argentina 3–2 and went on to defeat France in the final 3–2. Kafelnikov won his third French Open men's doubles title in 2002. He reached the French Open men's doubles final for the fourth time in 2003, when he finished runner-up. In 2003, betting on a Yevgeny Kafelnikov match in Lyon was suspended when an ominously large wager was made on his opponent, Fernando Vicente, loser of his previous 12 matches. Vicente won in straight sets. Records Kafelnikov retired from the professional tour in 2004, having won 26 singles and 27 doubles titles. During his career he won $23,883,797 US dollars in career prize money, which puts him at no.5 on the all time ATP prize money list. He won singles titles in 12 different countries: Australia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Russia, Switzerland, the United States, and Uzbekistan.
Since retiring, Kafelnikov has had a few impressive finishes at the 2005 World Series of Poker. He also played on the European PGA tour at the 2005 Russian Open. Famously he stated that he was there not to make up the numbers, before finishing last by 20 odd shots. He now works as a commentator for Russian TV covering tennis. During the 2008 Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Florida, Kafelnikov coached Marat Safin in the absence of Hernan Gumy. Grand Slam singles finals Wins Runner-up Trivia
Go to the List of Male and Female Tennis Players
|
