Yevgeny Kafelnikov
Yevgeny Aleksandrovich Kafelnikov is a Russian former world No. 1 tennis player. He won two Grand Slam singles titles, the 1996 French Open and the 1999 Australian Open, and a gold medal at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. He also won four Grand Slam doubles titles, and is the last male player to have won both the men's singles and doubles titles at the same Grand Slam tournament. In 2019, Kafelnikov was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Career
In his breakthrough year in 1994, Kafelnikov won three titles, reached the Hamburg Masters final and beat world top-5 players on six occasions. His ranking rose from 102 at the beginning of the year, to a year-end ranking of 11.In 1995, he reached his first Grand Slam semifinals, beating world no. 1 Andre Agassi in straight sets in the quarterfinals. He also defeated three top-10 players on his way to the title in Milan.
At the 1996 French Open, Kafelnikov became the first Russian to ever win a Grand Slam title, defeating Michael Stich in the final in straight sets, having beaten world no. 1 Pete Sampras in the semifinals.
Kafelnikov was finalist at the 1997 ATP Tour World Championships, and won three titles during that season. In doubles, he won both the French Open and US Open partnering Daniel Vacek.
At the 1999 Australian Open, 10th seed Kafelnikov won his second singles Grand Slam title, defeating Thomas Enqvist in the final in four sets. He also won in Rotterdam and Moscow, was runner-up at the Canadian Open and reached the semifinals of the US Open.
Seeded fifth, Kafelnikov won the gold medal in the men's singles tournament at the 2000 Olympic Games, beating second seed Gustavo Kuerten in the quarterfinals and Tommy Haas in the final in five sets. He also reached the final of the Australian Open and the quarterfinals of the French Open.
In 2001, he defeated world no. 1 Gustavo Kuerten in the quarterfinals of the US Open for the loss of just seven games, before losing to Lleyton Hewitt in the semifinals. Kafelnikov was also a finalist at the Paris Masters, quarterfinalist at the Australian Open and French Open, and won a record fifth consecutive title in Moscow.
Kafelnikov won his fourth and final doubles Grand Slam at the French Open in 2002, partnering Paul Haarhuis, and his final career singles title, in Tashkent. He was also a member of Russia's Davis Cup-winning team in 2002.
Kafelnikov played his last ATP-tour match in October 2003. In total, he won 53 titles across singles and doubles during his career, and he remains the last male player to win both singles and doubles titles at the same Grand Slam.
Post-retirement
Since retiring from tennis, Kafelnikov cashed three times at the 2005 World Series of Poker. He also played golf on the European Tour at the 2005, 2008, 2013, 2014 and 2015 Russian Open, 2012, 2013 and 2014 Austrian Open, and the 2014 Czech Masters, plus several Challenge Tour events, without making any cuts.During the 2008 Miami Masters, Kafelnikov coached Marat Safin. In 2009 and 2010, he participated in the ATP Champions Tour, finishing in third place in tournaments in Chengdu, Bogota and São Paulo.
Major finals
Grand Slam: 8 (6–2)
Singles: 3 (2–1)
Doubles: 5 (4–1)
Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents in the final | Score in the final |
Winner | 1996 | French Open | Clay | Daniel Vacek | ![]() ![]() | 6–2, 6–3 |
Winner | 1997 | French Open | Clay | Daniel Vacek | ![]() ![]() | 7–6, 4–6, 6–3 |
Winner | 1997 | US Open | Hard | Daniel Vacek | ![]() ![]() | 7–6, 6–3 |
Winner | 2002 | French Open | Clay | Paul Haarhuis | ![]() ![]() | 7–5, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 2003 | French Open | Clay | Paul Haarhuis | ![]() ![]() | 6–7, 3–6 |
Olympic Games
Singles: 1 (1 gold medal)
Year-End Championships
Singles: 1 (0–1)
ATP Masters Series: 16 (7–9)
Singles: 5 (0–5)
Doubles: 11 (7–4)
ATP Career finals
Singles: 46 (26 titles, 20 runner-ups)
Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
Winner | 1. | 10 January 1994 | Adelaide, Australia | Hard | ![]() | 6–4, 6–3 |
Winner | 2. | 7 March 1994 | Copenhagen, Denmark | Carpet | ![]() | 6–3, 7–5 |
Runner-up | 1. | 9 May 1994 | Hamburg, Germany | Clay | ![]() | 4–6, 4–6, 6–3, 3–6 |
Winner | 3. | 29 August 1994 | Long Island, USA | Hard | ![]() | 5–7, 6–1, 6–2 |
Winner | 4. | 20 February 1995 | Milan, Italy | Carpet | ![]() | 7–5, 5–7, 7–6 |
Winner | 5. | 27 March 1995 | St. Petersburg, Russia | Carpet | ![]() | 6–2, 6–2 |
Runner-up | 2. | 24 April 1995 | Nice, France | Clay | ![]() | 4–6, 0–6 |
Winner | 6. | 17 July 1995 | Gstaad, Switzerland | Clay | ![]() | 6–3, 6–4, 3–6, 6–3 |
Winner | 7. | 28 August 1995 | Long Island, USA | Hard | ![]() | 7–6, 6–2 |
Winner | 8. | 8 January 1996 | Adelaide, Australia | Hard | ![]() | 7–6, 3–6, 6–1 |
Runner-up | 3. | 11 March 1996 | Rotterdam, Netherlands | Carpet | ![]() | 4–6, 6–3, 3–6 |
Runner-up | 4. | 1 April 1996 | St. Petersburg, Russia | Carpet | ![]() | 2–6, 6–7 |
Winner | 9. | 6 May 1996 | Prague, Czech Republic | Clay | ![]() | 7–5, 1–6, 6–3 |
Winner | 10. | 10 June 1996 | French Open, Paris, France | Clay | ![]() | 7–6, 7–5, 7–6 |
Runner-up | 5. | 24 June 1996 | Halle, Germany | Grass | ![]() | 7–6, 3–6, 4–6 |
Runner-up | 6. | 22 July 1996 | Stuttgart, Germany | Clay | ![]() | 2–6, 2–6, 4–6 |
Winner | 11. | 7 October 1996 | Lyon, France | Carpet | ![]() | 7–5, 6–3 |
Runner-up | 7. | 4 November 1996 | Paris, France | Carpet | ![]() | 2–6, 4–6, 5–7 |
Runner-up | 8. | 11 November 1996 | Moscow, Russia | Carpet | ![]() | 6–3, 1–6, 3–6 |
Winner | 12. | 16 June 1997 | Halle, Germany | Grass | ![]() | 7–6, 6–7, 7–6 |
Winner | 13. | 18 August 1997 | New Haven, USA | Hard | ![]() | 7–6, 6–4 |
Winner | 14. | 10 November 1997 | Moscow, Russia | Carpet | ![]() | 7–6, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 9. | 17 November 1997 | Year-End Championships, Hanover | Hard | ![]() | 3–6, 2–6, 2–6 |
Runner-up | 10. | 9 February 1998 | Marseille, France | Hard | ![]() | 4–6, 1–6 |
Winner | 15. | 2 March 1998 | London, UK | Carpet | ![]() | 7–5, 6–4 |
Winner | 16. | 15 June 1998 | Halle, Germany | Grass | ![]() | 6–4, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 11. | 21 September 1998 | Tashkent, Uzbekistan | Hard | ![]() | 5–7, 4–6 |
Runner-up | 12. | 2 November 1998 | Stuttgart, Germany | Hard | ![]() | 4–6, 3–6, 3–6 |
Winner | 17. | 16 November 1998 | Moscow, Russia | Carpet | ![]() | 7–6, 7–6 |
Winner | 18. | 1 February 1999 | Australian Open, Melbourne, Australia | Hard | ![]() | 4–6, 6–0, 6–3, 7–6 |
Winner | 19. | 22 February 1999 | Rotterdam, Netherlands | Carpet | ![]() | 6–2, 7–6 |
Runner-up | 13. | 9 August 1999 | Montreal, Canada | Hard | ![]() | 6–1, 3–6, 3–6 |
Runner-up | 14. | 23 August 1999 | Washington, D.C., USA | Hard | ![]() | 6–7, 1–6 |
Winner | 20. | 15 November 1999 | Moscow, Russia | Carpet | ![]() | 7–6, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 15. | 30 January 2000 | Australian Open, Melbourne, Australia | Hard | ![]() | 6–3, 3–6, 2–6, 4–6 |
Runner-up | 16. | 28 February 2000 | London, UK | Hard | ![]() | 4–6, 4–6 |
Winner | 21. | 2 October 2000 | Olympics, Sydney, Australia | Hard | ![]() | 7–6, 3–6, 6–2, 4–6, 6–3 |
Winner | 22. | 30 October 2000 | Moscow, Russia | Carpet | ![]() | 6–2, 7–5 |
Runner-up | 17. | 27 November 2000 | Stockholm, Sweden | Hard | ![]() | 2–6, 4–6, 4–6 |
Winner | 23. | 19 February 2001 | Marseille, France | Hard | ![]() | 7–6, 6–2 |
Runner-up | 18. | 17 September 2001 | Tashkent, Uzbekistan | Hard | ![]() | 2–6, 2–6 |
Winner | 24. | 8 October 2001 | Moscow, Russia | Carpet | ![]() | 6–4, 7–5 |
Runner-up | 19. | 5 November 2001 | Paris, France | Carpet | ![]() | 6–7, 1–6, 7–6, 4–6 |
Winner | 25. | 17 June 2002 | Halle, Germany | Grass | ![]() | 2–6, 6–4, 6–4 |
Winner | 26. | 16 September 2002 | Tashkent, Uzbekistan | Hard | ![]() | 7–6, 7–5 |
Runner-up | 20. | 3 February 2003 | Milan, Italy | Carpet | ![]() | 4–6, 7–5, 5–7 |
Doubles: 41 (27–14)
Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
Runner-up | 1. | 7 February 1994 | Marseille, France | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 7–6, 4–6, 1–6 |
Winner | 1. | 11 April 1994 | Barcelona, Spain | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 5–7, 6–1, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 2. | 25 April 1994 | Monte Carlo, Monaco | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–3, 6–7, 4–6 |
Winner | 2. | 2 May 1994 | Munich, Germany | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 7–6, 7–5 |
Winner | 3. | 16 May 1994 | Rome, Italy | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–1, 7–5 |
Winner | 4. | 24 October 1994 | Lyon, France | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–7, 7–6, 7–6 |
Runner-up | 3. | 27 March 1995 | St. Petersburg, Russia | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 4–6, 2–6 |
Winner | 5. | 10 April 1995 | Estoril, Portugal | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 5–7, 7–5, 6–2 |
Winner | 6. | 15 May 1995 | Hamburg, Germany | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–1, 7–6 |
Runner-up | 4. | 26 June 1995 | Halle, Germany | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 2–6, 6–3, 3–6 |
Winner | 7. | 31 July 1995 | Montreal, Canada | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–2, 6–2 |
Winner | 8. | 23 October 1995 | Lyon, France | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–3, 6–3 |
Runner-up | 5. | 26 February 1996 | Antwerp, Belgium | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 4–6, 4–6 |
Winner | 9. | 1 April 1996 | St. Petersburg, Russia | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–3, 6–4 |
Winner | 10. | 6 May 1996 | Prague, Czech Republic | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–3, 6–7, 6–3 |
Winner | 11. | 10 June 1996 | French Open, Paris | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–2, 6–3 |
Runner-up | 6. | 24 June 1996 | Halle, Germany | Grass | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 1–6, 5–7 |
Winner | 12. | 30 September 1996 | Basel, Switzerland | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–3, 6–4 |
Winner | 13. | 14 October 1996 | Vienna, Austria | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 7–6, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 7. | 4 November 1996 | Paris, France | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 4–6, 6–4, 6–7 |
Winner | 14. | 9 June 1997 | French Open, Paris | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 7–6, 4–6, 6–3 |
Winner | 15. | 14 July 1997 | Gstaad, Switzerland | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 4–6, 7–6, 6–3 |
Winner | 16. | 8 September 1997 | US Open, New York | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 7–6, 6–3 |
Winner | 17. | 23 February 1998 | Antwerp, Belgium | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 7–5, 3–6, 6–2 |
Runner-up | 8. | 2 March 1998 | London, England | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 4–6, 5–7 |
Winner | 18. | 19 October 1998 | Vienna, Austria | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 7–5, 6–3 |
Runner-up | 9. | 16 November 1998 | Moscow, Russia | Carpet | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 4–6, 7–6, 2–6 |
Winner | 19. | 19 April 1999 | Barcelona, Spain | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 7–5, 6–3 |
Runner-up | 10. | 21 February 2000 | Rotterdam, Netherlands | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 7–5, 2–6, 3–6 |
Winner | 20. | 24 April 2000 | Monte Carlo, Monaco | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–3, 2–6, 6–1 |
Runner-up | 11. | 15 May 2000 | Rome, Italy | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 4–6, 6–4, 3–6 |
Winner | 21. | 16 October 2000 | Vienna, Austria | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 6–4 |
Winner | 22. | 19 March 2001 | Indian Wells, United States | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–2, 7–5 |
Winner | 23. | 14 May 2001 | Rome, Italy | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–4, 7–6 |
Winner | 24. | 29 October 2001 | St. Petersburg, Russia | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 7–5, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 12. | 22 April 2002 | Monte Carlo, Monaco | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 6–3, |
Winner | 25. | 10 June 2002 | French Open, Paris | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 7–5, 6–4 |
Winner | 26. | 17 March 2003 | Indian Wells, United States | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3–6, 7–5, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 13. | 9 June 2003 | French Open, Paris | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–7, 3–6 |
Runner-up | 14. | 21 July 2003 | Stuttgart, Germany | Clay | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 6–3, 3–6, 4–6 |
Winner | 27. | 4 August 2003 | Washington, D.C., United States | Hard | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 7–5, 4–6, 6–2 |
Performance timelines
Singles
Doubles
Top 10 wins
Team titles
2002 – Davis Cup winner with Russia2000, 2001, 2002 - World Team Cup finalist with Russia
Tennis records
- He played exclusively with and endorsed racquets from Austrian company Fischer throughout his career.
- One of eleven players to beat Roger Federer at Wimbledon ; the other ten being Jiří Novák, Tim Henman, Mario Ančić, Rafael Nadal, Tomáš Berdych, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Sergiy Stakhovsky, Novak Djokovic, Milos Raonic and Kevin Anderson.
- In the episode of Sports Night "Shane", Dan and Jeremy spend over an hour recording and rerecording a ten-second commercial voiceover because Dan cannot say Yevgeny Kafelnikov.
- Kafelnikov is the only male player in the open era to have won two or more Grand Slam singles titles without also winning a Masters Series title, despite having reached five Masters Series finals.
- Kafelnikov owns the best career winning percentage against Roger Federer amongst those with more than four matches against him. Kafelnikov is 4–2 against Federer, joined by Àlex Corretja, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic as the only players with winning records against Federer in more than four matches. See: Roger Federer career statistics.
- He won the Kremlin Cup in Moscow for a record five consecutive times from 1997 to 2001.
Other interests
- Kafelnikov is an avid supporter of Spartak Moscow FC.
- Kafelnikov is a professional golfer, he has won the Russian Championship of Golf in 2011.
- Kafelnikov starred in Virtua Tennis, an arcade tennis game. In the PlayStation 2 version, he has a strong backhand.
Awards
;2002: The Russian Cup in the nomination Team of the Year