Yevgeny Kafelnikov

Russian tennis player Yevgeny Kafelnikov competed professionally from 1992 to 2003, being ranked as the world number one in the men’s singles in May 1999. During his career Kafelnikov also achieved a doubles ranking of number four in the world in March 1998, won six Grand Slam titles, two in singles, gold at the Olympics, and earned almost $24 million in prize money. His breakthrough year came in 1994, winning four singles and four doubles titles on the ATP Tour.

In 1996 Kafelnikov won both the singles and doubles title at the French Open. In the former he beat Michael Stich, pairing with Daniel Vacek in the doubles to win against Jakob Hlasek and Guy Forget. Kafelnikov and Vacek returned to the French Open the following year where they retained their doubles title, this time beating the Australian pair of Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde. They continued their good form during the year, winning the doubles title at US Open by beating the Swedish duo of Jonas Björkman and Nicklas Kulti. Two years later Kafelnikov won his second singles title with victory against Thomas Enqvist at the 1999 Australian Open. His sixth and final Grand Slam title came at the 2002 French Open, winning the doubles final with Paul Haarhuis.

Kafelnikov represented Russia at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, winning gold in the singles after beating Tommy Haas in the final. He also competed in the doubles at the Sydney Games, pairing with Marat Safin. Two years after the Olympics he was part of the Russian team that won the Davis Cup, beating hosts France in the final in Paris. In 2019 Kafelnikov was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.