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Yevgeny Aleksandrovich Kafelnikov (Russian
language|Russian: Евгений
Александрович Кафельников)
(yehv-GYEH-nee kah-FYELL-nee-koff;
KAH-fyell-nee-koff in Russian) is a former World
No. 1 tennis player from Russia. During his
career, he won two Grand Slam (tennis)|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 was born on February 18 1974, in Sochi,
Russia|Sochi, in the Russian SFSR|RSFSR, Soviet
Union (now Russia).

== 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 Championships|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 U.S. Open
(tennis)|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.

In 2002, Kafelnikov was part of the Russian team
which 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.


==Grand Slam singles finals==

===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 

===Runner-ups (1)===

 Year     Championship            Opponent in
Final          Score in Final
 2000     Australian Open         Andre Agassi    
          3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4

==External links==
*http://www.kafelnikov.com.ar/ Kafelnikov.com.ar :
pictures, profile, biography, titles and quotes
*http://www.atptennis.com/en/players/playerprofile
s/default2.asp?playersearch=Yevgeny+Kafelnikov
Official ATP Profile
*http://www.sports-king.com/sportsking-articles.ph
p?article=19 Kafelnikov the Poker Player

Tennis World Number Ones (men)
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