Kafelnikov closing on Sampras


Yevgeny Kafelnikov has closed on Sampras' number 1 ranking, having just won the indoor tournament in Rotterdam. He defeated Tim Henman in the Rotterdam final by 6-2, 7-6 (7-3). The Briton was outplayed from the back of the court in the first set. In the second he rallied to lead by 5-2. But the Australian Open champion Kafelnikov came back, taking the set to a tiebreak and then winning it decisively.

The Russian is now ranked no.2 and is just 85 points behind claiming the coveted no.1 spot, and a place in tennis history.

Sampras meanwhile has made his comeback to tennis, but unfortunately it may well have been a little too soon. The American made the semi finals of the tournament in San Jose, but was forced to default as a result of an ankle injury. This injury, coupled with Sampras' self-enforced absence from the Australian Open has given Kafelnikov the opportuntity to claim the world number 1 ranking.

Tournament News

Mark Philipossis benefitted from Sampras' withdrawal from their semi-final, and went on to win the title against unheralded Japanese player Cecil Mamiit. Mamiit had beaten Michael Chang, and previously had advanced as a result of Andre Agassi's default for swearing.

Jim Courier has shrugged off questions on retirement, beating Chang on the way to reaching the Memphis tournament's final. He lost there to German Tommy Haas by 6-4, 6-1, but the week marked a continued improvement from the former world number 1. Haas meanwhile has already made the semi finals of the Australian Open this year, and is also climbing up the rankings.

In St. Petersburg in Russia Marc Rosset has beaten German David Prinisol by 6-3, 6-4. Rosset is also enjoying a resurgence, having reached the quarter-final stage of the Australian Open before losing to Thomas Enqvist.

Finally, in Dubai Jerome Golmard defeated another German young German player in Nicolas Kiefer. He won the match by 6-4, 6-2.

That's all for now. More from Men's Tennis in a fortnight's time. Cheers!

The copyright of the article Kafelnikov closing on Sampras in Men's Tennis is owned by Joel Hunt. Permission to republish Kafelnikov closing on Sampras in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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