Yevgeny Kafelnikov

Infobox Tennis player
playername= Yevgeny Kafelnikov


country= RUS
residence= Sochi, Russia
datebirth= birth date and age|1974|2|18
placebirth= Sochi, Soviet Union flagicon|USSR
height= height|m=1.90
weight= convert|84|kg|lb st|abbr=on
turnedpro= 1992
retired= 2003
plays= Right-handed; two-handed backhand
careerprizemoney= $23,883,797
(5th in all time Men's Tennis prize earnings)
singlesrecord= 609–306
singlestitles= 26
highestsinglesranking= No. 1 (May 3, 1999)
AustralianOpenresult= W (1999)
FrenchOpenresult= W (1996)
Wimbledonresult= QF (1995)
USOpenresult= SF (1999, 2001)
Othertournaments = Yes
MastersCupresult = F (1997)
Olympicsresult = Gold medal (2000)
doublesrecord= 358–213
doublestitles= 27
grandslamsdoublesresults= Yes
AustralianOpenDoublesresult= QF (1995, 1999)
FrenchOpenDoublesresult= W (1996, 1997, 2002)
WimbledonDoublesresult= SF (1994, 1995)
USOpenDoublesresult= W (1997)
highestdoublesranking= No. 4 (March 30, 1998)

Yevgeny Aleksandrovich Kafelnikov (born 18 February 1974; _ru. Евгений Александрович Кафельников, IPA-ru|jɪvˈgenʲɪj ɐlʲɪˈksandrəvʲɪtɕ ˈkafʲɪlʲnʲɪkəf) 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

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 Sampras and then beat former Wimbledon champion Michael Stich in the final 7–6, 7–5, 7–6.

In 1997, Kafelnikov won the men's doubles titles at both the French Open and the US Open.

In 1999, 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.

Kafelnikov was in the Australian Open final again in 2000, but was defeated in four sets by Andre Agassi. That summer, he won the men's singles Gold Medal for Russia at the Sydney Olympic Games. In the final, he defeated Tommy Haas of Germany 7–6, 3–6, 6–2, 4–6, 6–3.

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 Gastón 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 Kafelnikov match in Lyon was suspended when an ominously large wager was made on his opponent, Fernando Vicente, loser of his previous 12 matches. [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/08/07/sports/VANTAGE.php Tennis: The dark side of a free market] ] Vicente won in straight sets. Kafelnikov played his final singles tournament in St.Petersburg in 2003 and final doubles tournament (ironically a challenger event) in the Ukrainian city of Dnepropetrovsk.

Kafelnikov lost at the French Open quarter-finals against Gustavo Kuerten for 3 times, 1997, 2000 and 2001. Curiously, Kuerten won the three editions.

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.

Life after tennis

Since retiring, Kafelnikov has had a few impressive finishes at the 2005 World Series of Poker. He also played golf on the European PGA tour at the 2005 and 2008 Russian Open. He stated that he was there not to make up the numbers, before finishing last by 20 odd shots in 2005 (and second to last in 2008). [ [http://www.europeantour.com/default.sps?pageid=127&pagegid={20E6AA6B-0225-4C71-BD89-2ACBEE615D69}&playerId=34243 European Tour Player page] ]

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. Just after the 2008 US open he again was hitting with Safin upon his return to Moscow, a possible coaching job with Marat cannot be ruled out.

Grand Slam singles finals

Wins (2)

Runner-up (1)

A = did not attend
LQ = lost in qualifying draw

Career doubles finals (41)

Wins (27)

A = did not participate in the tournament.

Team titles

2002 - Davis Cup winner with Russia

Trivia

* Kafelnikov starred in "Virtua Tennis", an arcade tennis game. In that game, he has a strong backhand.

* He also obtained a wildcard entry into the 2005 Cadillac Russian Open golf tournament, in Moscow, shooting rounds of 88 and 96 to finish 40 over par and missed the cut by 24 strokes.

* He played exclusively with and endorsed racquets from Austrian company, Fischer throughout his career.

External links

* [http://www.kafelnikov.com.ar/ Kafelnikov.com.ar : pictures, profile, biography, titles and quotes]
*ATP|id=K267
* [http://www.daviscup.com/teams/player.asp?player=10002616 Davis Cup record]