Yevgeny Kafelnikov Biography

Yevgeny Kafelnikov was born on the 18th of February in Sochi city. He was called "Grand Duke" for his weight 5 kg (11 lbs). Yevgeny didn't suspect what he would be doing in future: tennis-courts, millions of spectators all over the world or wins at the most prestigeous tournaments. Certanly not, everything didn't come to him in a moment but needed much time of hard trainings.

From the early childhood Yevgenys father, ex-voleyball player, has taught his son to love sport. Later he put Evgeny under the supervision of the tennis coach Peschanko V. The results of the first trainings, the learning of tennis mastership showed that Yevgeny had feel of the ball. It was decided to take Yevgeny to the Shishkin V. coach. The coach liked Kafelnikov at the first time like tennis player and human one at the time thinking he was the man who has prospects and promising future among his pupils. They were training together for a long period of time about 12 years. Yevgeny formed as a player under the direction of Shishkin. In 1981 Kafelnikov was included in USSR team. The first significant success was in doubles when he became the Champion Europe twice (14-16 years old) playing with Medvedev Andrey. In 1989-90 he became the master Sunshine Cup playing in USSR team with Medvedev, Tomashevich and Ogorodov. In spring of 1991 he was in NB academy for probation period where he played several sets with Pete Sampras at the first time. Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Shishkin parted with each other after the trip in US in autumn of 1991.

Lepyoshin Anatoly became the new coach Yevgeny Kafelnikov. At first the coach didn't make plans with Yevgeny thinking of young sportsman like nothing comperative with others, although Kafelnikov was noticed and well sized by Tarpishchev Shamil. He wrote "Yevgeny Kafelnikov bursted into the elite, his very talanted tennis player in his teens he was graded higher than Medvedev Andrey ".

Forgotten about there discords Lepyoshin and Kafelnikov worked together. The coach showed himself as a mature psycologist and determed man. He helped Yevgeny a lot, made him disciplined, made him think of the deal very serious. And who might knows could Yevgeny Kafelnikov reach such a marvelous success if another coach trained him at that moment. Nevertheless the success was very unbelievable: wins in ATP tour, win in Grand Slam - Roland Garros one at a time in single and doubles. No one among the Russins could reach the highest point till Yevgeny could!

Nevertheless Kafelnikov and Lepyoshin parted in 1998. From 1999 the coach of the best tennis player became Stefanki Larry the wellknown coach who gave the starter to the potentially non developed talent. At the result Yevgeny won one more Grand Slam tournament in Australian Open 1999. Again and again Kafelnikov became the winner in different tournaments. Under the professional rule of Stefanki Larry Yevgeny became the 1th in the ATP ranking and Olympic Champion. It seemed it were ideal pair. Afidently anything was wrong. In the result Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Stefanki Larry parted. The same happened with him and his wife Masha. He was left with his daughter Olesya. Something like doom to make a part with relatives.

Notwithstanding the troubles Yevgeny Kafelnikov is unusual person and great sportsman. Yevgeny fonds of not only the tennis. From the early childhood he likes to go fishing, in the adult period he became to drive the plane and at last time he likes to play golf. For the period of his professional career he won 26 tournaments in singles and 27 in doubles, became the champion of Australia and France Open and in the 2000 he took the Olympic Gold of Sydney.
In 2002 one more Yevgeny’s dream came true. He gained the Davis Cup. Yevgeny playing in a team with Marat Safin, Mikhail Youzhny and Andrei Stoliarov won the most prestige tennis trophy.

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YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV BIOGRAPHY