Can he move a step forward (Yevgeny Kafelnikov)

Member Name: c-12

Product:	Yevgeny Kafelnikov
Date:	16/09/01 (126 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Grounstrokes are great , He is good in five setters, He is very determined and can play on a lot of surfaces.

Disadvantages: His serve , His Volley , Sometimes he doesn't play at his best.

Birthdate: 2/18/1974

Birthplace: Sochi, Russia

Residence: Sochi, Russia

Height: 6'3'' (190 cm)

Weight: 185 lbs (84kg)

Plays: Right-handed

Turned Pro: 1992

Australian Open - Champion 1999
French Open - Champion 1996
Wimbledon - Quarter-finalist 1995
US Open - Semi-finalist 1999, 2001

Final Champions Race 2000 Position: 5

Current Champions Race Position: 8

Shoes: Nike Air Court Implosion
Racquet: Fischer Pro Number One

Clothing: Nike

This Year

Record: 42 - 21
Singles Titles:1

Prize Money: $963,844

Singles Record: 514 - 244

Whole career

Prize Money: $19,148,490

Doha, Qatar
International Series, 1/1/2001, O, Hard , Draw: 32

R32 Clavet, Francisco (ESP )6-2 6-2
R16 Jonsson, Fredrik (SWE )6-3 7-6(3)
Q Ulihrach, Bohdan (CZE )6-1 6-7(5) 4-6
This Event Points: 12, New Champions Race Position: N/A, Prize Money: US $ 27970

Australian Open, Australia

Grand Slam, 1/15/2001, O, Hard , Draw: 128

R128 Knippschild, Jens (GER )6-1 6-4 6-2
R64 Kiefer, Nicolas (GER )6-2 3-6 3-6 6-3 6-0
R32 Woodruff, Chris (USA )6-7(3) 7-5 6-2 6-3
R16 Vinciguerra, Andreas (SWE )7-5 7-5 6-1
Q Clement, Arnaud (FRA )4-6 7-5 6-7(3) 6-7(3)
This Event Points: 50, New Champions Race Position: 23, Prize Money: US $ 59164

Milan, Italy
International Series, 1/29/2001, I, Hard , Draw: 32

R32 Tarango, Jeff (USA )4-6 6-4 6-2
R16 Heuberger, Ivo (SUI )6-2 6-3
Q Voltchkov, Vladimir (BLR )6-4 6-3
S Federer, Roger (SUI )2-6 7-6(4) 3-6
This Event Points: 15, New Champions Race Position: 6, Prize Money: US $ 18400

SVK v RUS WG Rd 1, Bratislava
DC, 2/9/2001, I, Hard , Draw: 4

RR Hrbaty, Dominik (SVK )6-2 6-3 7-5
RR Kucera, Karol (SVK )4-6 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-2

This Event Points: 0, New Champions Race Position: N/A, Prize Money: US $ 0

Marseille, France
International Series, 2/12/2001, I, Hard , Draw: 32

R32 Golmard, Jerome (FRA )6-3 6-2
R16 Mahut, Nicolas (FRA )4-6 6-1 6-2
Q Pioline, Cedric (FRA )7-5 6-7(5) 6-2
S Federer, Roger (SUI )6-7(4) 6-4 6-4
W Grosjean, Sebastien (FRA )7-6(5) 6-2
This Event Points: 35, New Champions Race Position: 6, Prize Money: US $ 66400

Rotterdam, The Netherlands
International Series Gold, 2/19/2001, I, Hard , Draw: 32

R32 Dosedel, Slava (CZE )6-2 6-2
R16 Kiefer, Nicolas (GER )4-6 2-6
This Event Points: 5, New Champions Race Position: 4, Prize Money: US $ 10700

Dubai, U.A.E.
International Series Gold, 2/26/2001, O, Hard , Draw: 32

R32 Dosedel, Slava (CZE )7-6(3) 6-2
R16 Johansson, Thomas (SWE )6-7(4) 5-7
This Event Points: 5, New Champions Race Position: 4, Prize Money: US $ 12800

Indian Wells TMS, California, USA
Tennis Masters Series, 3/12/2001, O, Hard , Draw: 64

R64 Rios, Marcelo (CHI )6-4 7-5
R32 Clavet, Francisco (ESP )6-3 7-6(6)
R16 Ivanisevic, Goran (CRO )5-7 6-2 6-3
Q Gambill, Jan-Michael (USA )6-4 6-3
S Sampras, Pete (USA )5-7 4-6
This Event Points: 45, New Champions Race Position: 4, Prize Money: US $ 111200

Miami Ericsson Open, FL, U.S.A.
Tennis Masters Series, 3/19/2001, O, Hard , Draw: 96

R128 Bye, () N/A
R64 Costa, Albert (ESP )7-6(6) 6-3
R32 Gaudio, Gaston (ARG )4-6 1-6
This Event Points: 7, New Champions Race Position: 3, Prize Money: US $ 17900

RUS v SWE WG QF, Malmo, Sweden
DC, 4/6/2001, I, Hard , Draw: 4

RR Johansson, Thomas (SWE )4-6 6-1 6-7(10) 6-3 2-6
This Event Points: 0, New Champions Race Position: N/A, Prize Money: US $ 0

Monte Carlo TMS, Monaco
Tennis Masters Series, 4/16/2001, O, Clay , Draw: 64

R64 H
ipfl, Markus (AUT )7-5 2-6 5-7
This Event Points: 1, New Champions Race Position: 3, Prize Money: US $ 8550

Munich, Germany
International Series, 4/30/2001, O, Clay , Draw: 32

R32 Eschauer, Werner (AUT )7-6(2) 5-7 3-6
This Event Points: 1, New Champions Race Position: 6, Prize Money: US $ 3720

Rome TMS, Italy
Tennis Masters Series, 5/7/2001, O, Clay , Draw: 64

R64 Pavel, Andrei (ROM )7-5 3-1
R32 Diaz, Jacobo (ESP )6-7(3) 6-1 5-7
This Event Points: 7, New Champions Race Position: 6, Prize Money: US $ 16250

Hamburg TMS, Germany
Tennis Masters Series, 5/14/2001, O, Clay , Draw: 64

R64 Escude, Nicolas (FRA )5-7 5-7
This Event Points: 1, New Champions Race Position: 7, Prize Money: US $ 8550

World Team Cup, Dusseldorf, Germany
WT, 5/21/2001, O, Clay , Draw: 64

RR Clement, Arnaud (FRA )3-6 6-7
RR Gambill, Jan-Michael (USA )6-4 5-7 6-2
RR Puerta, Mariano (ARG )2-6 7-5 6-2
W Draper, Scott (AUS )6-2 6-4
This Event Points: 0, New Champions Race Position: 8, Prize Money: US $ 136000

Roland Garros, France
Grand Slam, 5/28/2001, O, Clay , Draw: 128

R128 Luzzi, Federico (ITA )6-3 6-3 6-4
R64 Mamiit, Cecil (USA )7-6(3) 3-6 6-3 7-6(2)
R32 Rochus, Olivier (BEL )7-6(1) 6-4 6-3
R16 Robredo, Tommy (ESP )6-3 6-4 1-6 6-4
Q Kuerten, Gustavo (BRA )1-6 6-3 6-7(3) 4-6
This Event Points: 50, New Champions Race Position: N/A, Prize Money: US $ 78618

Halle, Germany
International Series, 6/11/2001, O, Grass , Draw: 32

R32 Ketola, Tuomas (FIN )6-3 4-6 6-2
R16 Schuettler, Rainer (GER )6-4 6-4
Q Escude, Nicolas (FRA )6-7(2) 7-6(3) 7-6(4)
S Johansson, Thomas (SWE )3-6 7-5 2-6
This Event Points: 22, New Champions Race Position: N/A, Prize Money: US $ 48000

Wimbledon, England
Grand Slam, 6/25/2001, O, Grass , Draw: 128

R128 Yoon, Yong-Il (KO
R )6-4 6-2 6-4
R64 Parmar, Arvind (GBR )6-7(5) 6-3 6-3 6-1
R32 Canas, Guillermo (ARG )6-3 1-6 3-6 6-7(2)
This Event Points: 15, New Champions Race Position: 6, Prize Money: US $ 28601

Stuttgart Outdoor, Germany
International Series Gold, 7/16/2001, O, Clay , Draw: 48

R64 Bye, () N/A
R32 Gaudenzi, Andrea (ITA )6-4 6-6
R16 Costa, Albert (ESP )6-4 6-4
Q Canas, Guillermo (ARG )6-4 3-6 3-6
This Event Points: , New Champions Race Position: 9, Prize Money: US $

Kitzbuhel, Austria
International Series Gold, 7/23/2001, O, Clay , Draw: 48

R64 Bye, () N/A
R32 Marach, Oliver (AUT )7-6(1) 5-7 6-4
R16 Armando, Hugo (USA )1-6 1-6
This Event Points: 5, New Champions Race Position: 10, Prize Money: US $ 10500

Montreal / Toronto TMS, Montreal, Canada
Tennis Masters Series, 7/30/2001, O, Hard , Draw: 64

R64 Martin, Todd (USA )6-3 6-7(3) 4-6
This Event Points: 1, New Champions Race Position: 10, Prize Money: US $ 8550

Cincinnati TMS, Ohio, USA
Tennis Masters Series, 8/6/2001, O, Hard , Draw: 64

R64 Vinciguerra, Andreas (SWE )7-6(4) 6-1
R32 Santoro, Fabrice (FRA )6-1 6-4
R16 Martin, Alberto (ESP )6-2 2-6 6-4
Q Kuerten, Gustavo (BRA )4-6 6-3 4-6
This Event Points: 25, New Champions Race Position: 10, Prize Money: US $ 58500

Indianapolis, IN, U.S.A.
International Series Gold, 8/13/2001, O, Hard , Draw: 56

R64 Bye, () N/A
R32 Mirnyi, Max (BLR )3-6 3-6
This Event Points: , New Champions Race Position: 8, Prize Money: US $

US Open, NY, U.S.A.
Grand Slam, 8/27/2001, O, Hard , Draw: 128

R128 Kratochvil, Michel (SUI )1-6 6-1 5-7 6-4 6-4
R64 Bastl, George (SUI )2-6 5-7 6-1 6-4 6-3
R32 Nalbandian, David (ARG )3-6 6-4 6-2 6-2
R16 Clement, Arnaud (FRA )6-3 6-4 6-3
Q Kuerten, Gustavo (BRA )6-4 6-0 6-3
S Hewitt, Lleyton (AUS )1-6 2-6 1-6
Th
is Event Points: 90, New Champions Race Position: 8, Prize Money: US $ 225000

Review of his Grand Slams he played this Season

In the Australian Open he went up against Knippschild who is German and isn't a very good player. The Russian easily went through to the next round after he demolished the German in straights sets with a lot of break points for the Russian. Next up was another German who is a much better player than the last German Yevgeny played against. He is Kiefer who is also young and getting better every game he plays. It took a long time for the Russian to see him off and each set was one sided, it was another five setter for the Russian. In the last 32 he faced a middle of the road player, Chris Woodruff who was playing very good during the tornament and it wasn't a suprise when it went to four sets and it looked like Yevgeny was tired from the last match. It was a tough match for the Russian in which he came through winner. His next opponent was another youngster this time Vinciguerra from Sweden and Yevgeny went through in straight sets with the first two sets very tight but then the Swede tired and lost the last set poorly. In the quaters he faced the very much improved Clement from France, and they were four very, very close sets with three of them going to tie-breaks, so anybody could have won but the Frechman won. The Russian will probably get to the quarters again next year and has before won this tornament.

In the French Open he goes up against Luzzi a unknown Italian in the first round and he won quite easily in straight sets and was a good warm up match for him. Next round he faced an American, who is not very good, Mamiit. It went to four sets but it always looked like he was going to win the match and he did but Mamiit should be please with himself. Next up was Rochus and the Russian went through even though the Belgian played quite well but he never won the important points. In the last 16 he faced a
Spanish youngster Robredo who likes playing on clay, and there is a lot of youngsters coming out and playing good on clay at the moment. The Russian won the first two sets without much trouble but then the Robredo won the third empatically but the Yevgeny regained his form to finish him off and advance to the quarters. He faced the clay court specialist Kuerten and lost in four sets, but if he won the third set tie-break then it could have been a different story. He will be a contender for the title next year as he has won it before but there is a lot of good clay courts specialist coming through like Ferrero and also there is a lot of experienced clay courters out there.

In Winbledon he faced Yoon from China who is very unknown and did well to come through the qualifers. But Yoon couldn't keep up with the Russian and lost in straight sets and none of them were that tight. In the second round he faced British player Parmar and lost the first set to Parmar in another tie-break but then the Russian took the next three sets emaptically to go through to face Canas who comes for Arginitina. Canas is at his best on clay but he has done fantastic to get to the last 32. The Russian won the first set but then Canas improved and Yevgeny got worst and Canas took the next two sets as if he had played on grass forever. Then thr fourth set went to another tie-break and again Yevgeny lost it and went out. He should have got to the quarters and should do next year, as he can serve and volley better than others.

In the US Open he first faced Kratochvil a young Swiss he hasn't yet broken through in any of the big tornaments had a chance against Yevgeny. He certainly played well and the match went to five sets but lost out to the Russian in the end. The Russian next played Bastl another Swiss youngster who i think is slighty better than Kratochvil. Bastl suprisingly took the first two sets but in blistering fashion Yevgeny won the next three sets playing hi
s best tennis to overcome the Swiss. Nalbandian a suprise package from Arginitina was next up for the Russian and again the Russian lost the first set but he regained his form again and won the match in four sets. In the last 16 he faced Clement neither played their best tennis but Clement didn't play at all and lost the match in straight sets, got his revenge back on Clement after the Australian Open. The quarters were next up for Yevgeny and he faced Kuerten the classy Brazilian never looked good against the Russian and is no match for him on these courts and he lost the Russian without putting up a fight, his second revenge for the Russian as Kuerten beat him in the French Open. This is the furthest he has got in the Grand Slams this year, the semi-finals were next up for him. And he faced Lleyton Hewitt the young Aussie superstar he cause a stir earlier on in the tornament. But the Russian looked out of his depth against the Aussie and also looked a tad nervous and the Aussie thrashed him. He will be a contender again next year because of this year.

His game:
His serve isn't the best in the world but is very powerful but it also isn't accurate most of the time, he just hopes it goes in but also tries to make sure it is powerful. That is why he doesn't do a lot do double faults. It isn't too bad but it can cope with the best even if his serve isn't the best.

He also uses his serve and volley game when the match isn't going his way but won't usually use it at the start of the match unless it is against a particular person who doesn't like playing against the serve and volley game. He uses his powerful serve to get in to the net. He isn't bad at it or isn't good at it so this is why he uses it as a second choice in matches if his groundstrokes isn't working. His volley are never spectacular but can put away easy volleys very easily, he doesn't do anything too difficult with his volleys, he
jabs at it with accuracy when he plays at his best at the net.

His passing game is very, very good one of the best in the world. He prefers using his double handed backhand to pass when given the chance, that is why he does so good against the volleyers like Henman (i did a op about him.) He can do it cross court or down the line effectively and is also useful doing this with his forehand. Overall he has a top class passing game.

His groundstrokes is the best part of his game. Though when his groundstrokes aren't working then he refers to his serve and volley game or just volleys, and he is very erractic and does lots of errors and gets very frustated when his groundstrokes aren't working. He can slow down the play with the groundstrokes or up the pace and win some points with big strokes. He can use his one handed backhand to slow the pace and use his forehand to up the pace, then finish off the point with a big stroke with using the double handed backhand or a forehand. He usually combines his backhand and forehand in long rallys to good effect but sometimes doesn't like being kept at the back when his strokes aren't working and usually does a lot of errors, then the rallys are very short. But most of the time he is on top form at the back of the court and even sometimes comes in to the net to finish of the point. Overall his forehand and backhand are just as good as each other and they are both top notch, just as good as Andre Agassi in my opinion (i did a op on him as well.)

He has his fair share of injury but doesn't get injured as much of others, and he is also very speedy round the court and is in top shape at the moment, he has come through a lot of five set matches.But he is very good at winning five set matches but because of his unconsistency it gets him into these five setters in the first place. He is 27 and his form at the moment is very good especially after he got to the semi-final in the US Open. He
doesn't do anything stupid off court and isn't a controversial player on court or off. He has though admitted that sometimes he doesn't give 100% in matches, as if we didn't know that! But he is a very determined player trying to get even more better and keep his form going. But his main downfall is that he isn't very consistent and can't keep the form going. Also he sometimes doesn't play his best against the top players, see his results above. And he needs to get his volleys and serve a little bit better but not much better but a little bit better. If he does this before the end of his career he should go into retirement with a few more titles. I think he is on the brink of being a top player who can though at the moment beat top players when he his playing his best.

I think he would be aiming at getting five Grand Slams before the end of his career. And moving that step forward to be with the best and be known as a great in the world of tennis, but i don't have a clue whether he will or won't, because of the young crop of players coming through but also Yevgeny is on top form at the moment.

Summary: