Yevgeny Kafelnikov
Yevgeny became a professional tennis player in 1992 and won his first top-level singles title in Adelaide in 1994. An aggressive baseliner, Kafelnikov was able to dominate opponents and play on the couter-attack, making him a frightening opponent. His first big success came in 1996 when, at the age of just 22, he 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 straight sets in the final.
In 1997, he won the men's doubles titles at both the French Open and the US Open. In 1999, he won his second Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open, defeating Thomas Enqvist in four sets in the final. In May that year, he reached the World No. 1 men's singles ranking. Kafelnikov was in the Australian Open final again in 2000, but this time he lost in four sets to Andre Agassi. That summer, he won the men's singles Gold Medal for Russia at the Sydney Olympic Games, defeating Tommy Haas in the final.
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, he saved two match points in a singles rubber against Gastón Gaudio and won the 4 hour, 10 minute match 8–6 in the fifth. 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. But, they ultimately overcame Argentina 3–2 and went on to defeat France in the final.
He retired without fuss, and decided to stay away from the game for a number of years. He returned to action on the ATP Champions Tour in 2008, joined in Eindhoven by his daughter, Alesja.
