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Post by Laury on May 28, 2004 17:15:51 GMT
It´s been a while since he does not apper arround. Is he a retired player already?
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Post by tall_one on May 28, 2004 19:35:56 GMT
Kafelnikov to get official farewell at 2004 Kremlin Cup
Fri 21 May, 2004
MOSCOW, May 21 (Reuters) - Former world number one Yevgeny Kafelnikov, who has not played for more than seven months but has not publicly announced his retirement, will get an official farewell at the Kremlin Cup in October.
"We plan to honour him, I think he deserves it," Russian tennis chief Shamil Tarpishchev told Reuters.
Kafelnikov, the most successful Russian player of all time, holds special memories for the Kremlin Cup.
In 2001, he won the annual Moscow tournament for the fifth consecutive time, joining Swedish great Bjorn Borg and Hungary's Balazs Taroczy as the only players who have won the same event five years in a row since tennis became professional.
Borg won Wimbledon from 1976 to 1980 while Taroczy was the winner of the Hilversum tournament from 1978 to 1982.
Kafelnikov also became the first Russian to win a grand slam when he lifted the French Open crown in 1996. He also won the 1999 Australian Open and the 2000 Olympic gold medal in Sydney.
But his playing career has been in limbo since he lost his last competitive match in the second round of the St Petersburg Open last October.
The Russian, who turned 30 in February, has gained considerable weight and was looking out of shape.
"There'll be an official ceremony in his honour unless, of course, he decides to play one last time," Tarpishchev said.
"Then we could give him a wild card, providing he is fit enough to play."
The 15th annual Kremlin Cup will be held October 11-17.
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Post by Laury on May 28, 2004 21:11:48 GMT
Thank you very much, Nicki! I was wandering about him!  |
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