FOR PETE'S SAKE, HE'S THE CHAMP; KAFELNIKOV THANKFUL FOR AUSTRALIAN TITLE.Byline: Steve Wilstein Steve Wilstein is an Associated Press national sports writer and columnist based in New York. He covers sports events around the globe, including the Grand Slam of Tennis, the World Series, Super Bowl, and Olympics, and has won more than 25 writing awards. Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. Yevgeny Kafelnikov Yevgeny Aleksandrovich Kafelnikov (born 18 February, 1974; Russian: Евгений Александрович , holding the Australian Open
Kafelnikov, sidelined by strange accidents the past two years, only had to keep his body intact this time to capture a weakened men's tournament today and gain a second Grand Slam grand slam n. 1. The winning of all the tricks during the play of one hand in bridge and other whist-derived card games. 2. Sports The winning of all the major or specified events, especially on a professional circuit. title. Kafelnikov's steady baseline play gave him a 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 7-6 (7-1) victory over an unusually error-prone Thomas Enqvist, who double faulted for the seventh time on match point and made 62 unforced errors. In a men's draw diminished by the absence of the No. 1 Sampras, the apathetic ap·a·thet·ic adj. Lacking interest or concern; indifferent. ap  a·thet play of Andre Agassi and the early knockout of other top players, the No. 10 Kafelnikov emerged as champion almost by default. Kafelnikov raised the silver trophy at the end, smiled to the crowd and the cameras, and sent his best wishes to Sampras. ``Pete, it's really a great wonderful feeling,'' Kafelnikov said. ``Thanks for letting me do that.'' The Russian played well, if unspectacularly, in the final, committing eight double faults himself. But he limited his unforced errors to 35. He adds the Australian title to the French Open championship he won in 1996. ``When I won the first (major title) I wasn't really thinking about it,'' Kafelnikov said. ``It was just a quick moment. Now I can really enjoy it.'' Kafelnikov, 24, missed the Australian Open in 1998 after he hurt his left knee in a skiing accident a few weeks earlier. He had to skip the 1997 Australian Open because of a fractured finger suffered in a gym workout. Enqvist came into the final riding a 12-match winning streak that included victories last week over Australians Patrick Rafter and Mark Philippoussis, the U.S. Open finalists. But despite 19 aces, Enqvist couldn't counter Kafelnikov's deeper, more reliable groundstroke A groundstroke in tennis is a forehand or backhand shot that is executed after the ball bounces once on the court. It is usually hit from the back of the tennis court, around the baseline. game. If only Enqvist could have played with the enthusiasm of the dozens of blue-and-yellow painted and garbed Swedes in the crowd, he might have had a chance. But there was never a sense of occasion in Enqvist's quiet game, never a spark that showed he was ready to take his first major title. ``He played too solid for me today,'' Enqvist said. ``I knew if I would hit the ball back every time, his game is shaky,'' Kafelnikov said. ``I tried to play longer points. And Thomas' serve let him down in the second set . . . I broke Thomas mentally.'' CAPTION(S): 2 Photos PHOTO (1--Color) Russia's Yevgeny Kafelnikov reaches for a shot against Thomas Enqvist during the men's final. Kafelnikov won in four sets. Rick Rycroft/Associated Press (2) Thomas Enqvist made 62 unforced errors in the match. Rick Stevens/Associated Press |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion