Kafelnikov wins first French singles title

PARIS -- Sixth seed Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia picked up his first career Grand Slam singles title by defeating No. 15 Michael Stich of Germany 7-6 (7-4), 7-5, 7-6 (7-4) in the men's final of the French Open on Sunday. 

Kafelnikov hit a forehead winner on match point to become the first Russian to capture a Grand Slam singles title. 

 "I will always remember this day. I'm very very happy," the 22-year-old Kafelnikov said. 

"I didn't let Yevgeny win this tournament," Stich said. "He played much better than I today. For that, congratulations for a very good tournament." 

It seems like poetic justice for Kafelnikov, who rolled over top seed Pete Sampras 7-6 (7-4), 6-0, 6-2 in Friday's semifinals. On the other hand, it is disappointing for Stich, who knocked off No. 2 seed and tournament favorite Thomas Muster in the fourth round. 

"The first Grand Slam title really means everything," Kafelnikov said. "For Russia, it means very much. I know I have many supporters in Russia. I'm going to bring that wonderful trophy back to my country." 

Kafelnikov, who won the French Open doubles title Saturday with Daniel Vacek, becomes the first man to win both the singles and doubles titles at a Grand Slam event since Stefan Edberg accomplished the feat at the Australian Open in 1987. In addition, he is the first player to win both the singles and the doubles at Roland Garros since Ken Rosewall in 1968. 

"Today is, no question, the most glorious day of my life," said Kafelnikov. "Winning the first Grand Slam of my professional career means something to me. I tried to stay focused and fight to the very last point. When I got that point it was the most wonderful moment of my life." 

Stich squandered a 5-2 lead in the second set, after breaking Kafelnikov in the first and seventh games. He served twice for the set at 5-2 and 5-4 but was broken each time. Stich had set point in the ninth game, which Kafelnikov saved and eventually won to draw even at 5-5. 

After Kafelnikov held to take a 6-5 lead, Stich saved one of two set points but hit a volley return wide to give Kafelnikov the break and the set. 

Both players held serve in the first set but struggled to maintain it. In the third game, Stich saved four break points to hold at 2-1, and the eighth game went to six deuces with Kafelnikov saving three break points before holding to go to 4-4. 

Stich faced two break points in the 11th game but served two aces to go to deuce and held for a 6-5 lead. Kafelnikov then held serve to force the tiebreaker. 

Kafelnikov took 3-0 and 6-2 leads in the tiebreaker. After Stich saved two set points, he sliced a backhand return into the net to give Kafelnikov the set and hand Stich his first loss in a tiebreaker this year. 

Stich broke Kafelnikov to take a 2-1 lead in the third set. Both players held serve until the eighth game, when Kafelnikov broke back to go to 4-4 after Stich smashed a forehand return into the net. Kafelnikov held to take the lead. 

In the 10th game, Stich faced match point at 30-40 but saved for deuce. Stich then double-faulted for Kafelnikov's second match point, before saving again to go back to deuce. Stich then held to pull even at 5-5. Kafelnikov faced a break point but held to take a 6-5 lead. Stich then held to force the tiebreaker. 

Kafelnikov took a 4-0 lead in the tiebreaker after Stich knocked a forehand return into the net. Stich captured the next three points, but Kafelnikov won the next two to go up 6-3. Stich saved his third match point before Kafelnikov finally overcame the 27-year-old German. 

"It just came down to me not serving well, and that gave him the chance to dictate the match," said Stich. "I played two very poor tiebreakers, obviously, and gave him the chance to go up in the tiebreakers. Those were the key moments. I had chances in all three sets and blew them all. Once you get to the finals and lose there's no excuse for anything. There's nothing for the runner-up." 

Kafelnikov has now won three titles in five appearances in finals this year. He captured tournaments at Adelaide and Prague, but was upset in front of his home crowd at St. Petersburg and also lost at Rotterdam. 

Kafelnikov, voted the most improved player on the ATP Tour in 1994, struggled early in the clay-court season losing in the early rounds in three straight tournaments. 

Kafelnikov now has 10 career titles and last year became the first player since Emilio Sanchez of Spain in 1990 to finish the year ranked in the top 10 in both singles and doubles. 

Stich, who lost to Courier in four sets in the 1991 semis, was looking for his second Grand Slam title, having won Wimbledon in 1991. He appeared in one other Grand Slam final, losing to Andre Agassi at the 1994 U.S. Open. 

Kafelnikov has won seven of 10 career meetings against Stich, including four of five on clay. Stich downed Kafelnikov in straight sets in last year's Davis Cup semifinals.