Yevgeny Kafelnikov

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Image:Kafelnikov.jpg Template:MedalTop Template:MedalSport Template:MedalGold Template:MedalBottom Yevgeny Aleksandrovich Kafelnikov (born 18 February, 1974, Sochi, RSFSR, Soviet Union) (Russian: Евгений Александрович Кафельников) (yeev-GYEH-nee KAH-fill-nee-cough) is a Russian former World No. 1 tennis player. During his career, 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 Olympic Games. Kafelnikov played with a two-handed backhand, and had a very good return of serve. He was also very quick, but lost a lot of matches to players ranked way below him. A lot of tennis fans think he played too much, instead of focusing on the major tournaments.

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Career

Kafelnikov 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 men's singles and the men's doubles titles at the French Open. In the singles final, he beat former Wimbledon champion Michael Stich in straight sets 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 the No. 1 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 Olympic Games in Sydney. In the final, he defeated Tommy Haas of Germany in an exciting five-set match 7-6, 3-6, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.

Also in 2000, Kafelnikov starred in Virtua Tennis, an arcade tennis game. In that game, he has a strong backhand.

In 2002, Kafelnikov was part of the Russian team that won the Davis Cup for the first time. In Russia's semi-final win over Argentina, Kafelnikov saved two match points in a singles rubber against Gaston Gaudio in winning the five-set, four-hour and ten-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 six-hour and 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 3-2 in the final.

Kafelnikov also 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.

Kafelnikov retired from the professional tour in 2004, having won 26 singles and 27 doubles titles.

Since retiring, Kafelnikov has tried his hand at becoming a professional poker player, with a few impressive finishes at the 2005 World Series of Poker.

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Grand Slam singles finals

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Wins (2)

Year     Championship            Opponent in Final          Score in Final
1996     French Open             Michael Stich              7-6, 7-5, 7-6
1999     Australian Open         Thomas Enqvist             4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 7-6
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Runner-ups (1)

Year     Championship            Opponent in Final          Score in Final
2000     Australian Open         Andre Agassi               3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4
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Singles titles (26)

  • 1994
    • Adelaide, Copenhagen, Long Island
  • 1995
    • Milan, St. Petersburg, Gstaad, Long Island
  • 1996
    • Adelaide, Prague, French Open, Lyon
  • 1997
    • Halle, New Haven, Moscow
  • 1998
    • London, Halle, Moscow
  • 1999
    • Australian Open, Rotterdam, Moscow
  • 2000
    • Sydney Olympics, Moscow
  • 2001
    • Marseille, Moscow
  • 2002
    • Halle, Tashkent
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External links

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Template:Tennis World Number Ones (men) Template:Footer Olympic Champions Tennis Men Template:Australian Open men's singles champions Template:French Open men's singles championsbg:Евгени Кафелников de:Jewgeni Alexandrowitsch Kafelnikow es:Yevgeny Kafelnikov fr:Ievgueni Kafelnikov nl:Jevgeni Kafelnikov ja:エフゲニー・カフェルニコフ no:Jevgenij Kafelnikov pl:Jewgienij Kafielnikow ru:Кафельников, Евгений Александрович fi:Jevgeni Kafelnikov sv:Jevgenij Kafelnikov zh:卡费尔尼科夫

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