Kafelnikov Outlast Henman
 

ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS (TICKER) -- Two players who have started off strong in 1999 -- Russia's Yevgeny Kafelnikov and third seed Tim Henman of Britain -- marched into the final of the ABN/AMRO World Tennis Tournament today with straight-sets wins.

Looking to close the gap between himself and the world's No. 1 ranking, Kafelnikov, the reigning Australian Open champion and second seed, moved into his second final of 1999 and second at this event by stopping fifth seed Greg Rusedski of Britain, 6-4, 6-2.

Henman also advanced to his second ATP Tour final of the year by holding off Russian teenager Marat Safin, 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (7-0).

Kafelnikov, who turned 25 on Thursday, captured his second career Grand Slam title last month by defeating Thomas Enqvist in the final at Melbourne. He trails top-ranked Pete Sampras by only 345 points in the ATP rankings and could move within 30 of the American if he beats Henman in Sunday's final.

A finalist in 1996, Kafelnikov will seek his 19th career singles title on Sunday. Next week, he will defend his title at the Guardian Direct Cup in London.

Henman, who lost to Kafelnikov in the 1996 semifinals, fired 16 aces and never faced a break point as he advanced to his 10th career ATP Tour final. In his one real lowlight this year, he suffered a shocking loss to unheralded German Rainer Schuttler in the final at last month's Qatar Open.

On Sunday, the 24-year-old Henman will be gunning for his fifth career ATP Tour title and first since October in Basel, Switzerland.

The 19-year-old Safin saved all four break points he faced, but was denied in his bid to reach his first ATP Tour final and a chance to face his countryman.

Kafelnikov won two of three meetings against Henman last year, with the only loss coming in the final at Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

First prize at the $725,000 event is $135,000.
 

ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
February 15-21, 1999
32 Draw - $850,000
Surface - Carpet(Indoor)

Singles
Seeds: (c/o Guillaume Raoux - 53)
1. Alex Corretja
2. Yevgeny Kafelnikov
3. Tim Henman
4. Richard Krajicek
5. Greg Rusedski
6. Karol Kucera
7. Thomas Enqvist
8. Goran Ivanisevic

First Round
Marat Safin d. (1)Alex Corretja 7-5 3-6 6-3
Dominik Hrbaty d. (WC)Peter Wessels 6-3 6-7(5) 7-6(2)
Jerome Golmard d. Felix Mantilla 6-0 6-4
Wayne Ferreira d. (7)Thomas Enqvist 7-6(7) 6-3
(3)Tim Henman d. Davide Sanguinetti 1-6 6-4 6-3
Petr Korda d. Magnus Gustafsson 6-4 6-2
Fabrice Santoro d. Jan Siemerink 7-6(6) 6-3
(6)Karol Kucera d. Byron Black 6-1 6-1
(5)Greg Rusedski d. Nicolas Kiefer 7-6(5) 4-6 6-3
(WC)Edwin Kempes d. (q)Jan Kroslak 6-4 7-6(1)
Cedric Pioline d. (WC)Paul Haarhuis 3-6 7-6(6) 7-6(5)
(4)Richard Krajicek d. Marc Rosset 6-3 7-5
Bohdan Ulihrach d. (8)Goran Ivanisevic 6-7(8) 7-6(3) 7-5
(q)Roger Federer d. Guillaume Raoux 6-7(4) 7-5 7-6(3)
Hicham Arazi d. (q)Gaston Etlis 7-6(8) 7-5
(2)Yevgeny Kafelnikov d. (q)Rainer Schuttler 7-5 6-3

Second Round
Marat Safin d. Dominik Hrbaty 7-6(4) 5-7 6-3
Wayne Ferreira d. Jerome Golmard 5-7 6-3 7-6(4)
(3)Tim Henman d. Petr Korda 6-3 6-4
(6)Karol Kucera d. Fabrice Santoro 7-6(4) 6-4
(5)Greg Rusedski d. (WC)Edwin Kempes 6-1 6-4
Cedric Pioline d. (4)Richard Krajicek 7-6(5) 7-6(9)
(q)Roger Federer d. Bohdan Ulihrach 6-4 7-5
(2)Yevgeny Kafelnikov d. Hicham Arazi 6-1 6-2

Quarterfinals
Marat Safin d. Wayne Ferreira 6-2 6-7(4) 6-1
(3)Tim Henman d. (6)Karol Kucera 6-4 7-6(4)
(5)Greg Rusedski d. Cedric Pioline 7-6(5) 3-6 7-6(5)
(2)Yevgeny Kafelnikov d. (q)Roger Federer 6-1 5-7 6-4

Semifinals
(3)Tim Henman d. Marat Safin 7-6(7) 7-6(0)
(2)Yevgeny Kafelnikov d. (5)Greg Rusedski 6-4 6-2

Finals
(2)Yevgeny Kafelnikov d. (3)Tim Henman 6-2 7-6(3)
 

Doubles
Seeds: (c/o Nyborg/Vizner - 113)
1. Patrick Galbraith/Paul Haarhuis
2. Olivier Delaitre/Fabrice Santoro
3. Martin Damm/Cyril Suk
4. Piet Norval/Kevin Ullyett

First Round
Neil Broad/Peter Tramacchi d. (1)Patrick Galbraith/Paul Haarhuis 6-2 7-6(5)
(WC)Tom Kempes/Jan Siemerink d. (WC)Goran Ivanisevic/Nicolas Kiefer 6-4 7-5
(4)Piet Norval/Kevin Ullyett d. Francisco Roig/Javier Sanchez 7-6(0) 4-6 7-6(2)
(q)Neville Godwin/Mark Keil d. Tomas Carbonell/Chris Haggard 7-6(2) 6-4
David Adams/John-Laffnie De Jager d. Wayne Black/Sandon Stolle 6-3 6-1
(WC)Yevgeny Kafelnikov/Petr Korda d. (3)Martin Damm/Cyril Suk 7-5 6-2
Peter Nyborg/Pavel Vizner d. Nicklas Kulti/David MacPherson 7-6(5) 7-5
Joshua Eagle/Andrew Florent d. (2)Olivier Delaitre/Fabrice Santoro 6-2 6-1

Quarterfinals
Neil Broad/Peter Tramacchi d. (WC)Tom Kempes/Jan Siemerink 6-3 6-4
(4)Piet Norval/Kevin Ullyett d. (q)Neville Godwin/Mark Keil 7-6(5) 7-6(5)
David Adams/John-Laffnie De Jager d. (WC)Yevgeny Kafelnikov/Petr Korda 4-6 6-1 7-6(2)
Joshua Eagle/Andrew Florent d. Peter Nyborg/Pavel Vizner 7-6(4) 5-7 6-4

Semifinals
Neil Broad/Peter Tramacchi d. (4)Piet Norval/Kevin Ullyett 6-3 7-6(7)
David Adams/John-Laffnie De Jager d. Joshua Eagle/Andrew Florent 4-6 6-3 6-4

Finals
David Adams/John-Laffnie De Jager d. Neil Broad/Peter Tramacchi 6-7(5) 6-3 6-4