Kafelnikov: 'I faced Federer when he was a kid. He wasn't as good as now'
Yevgeny Kafelnikov was the first male player that beat Roger Federer on carpet, grass and hard court. He prevailed over the Swiss in 1999 Rotterdam, 2000 Wimbledon and 2000 Stuttgart indoors. The Russian said: "You have no idea how difficult is to play singles and doubles in a Grand Slam. To win it is mind-boggling. I still don't understand how I did it, how I beat Ken Rosewall's record, which has stood for 28 years. Before me, if I'm not mistaken, correct me if I'm wrong, was Stefan Edberg in 1987 who won singles and doubles in Melbourne. 23 years ago I did it. Still a mystery to me that none of the top players are giving themselves a chance to do that. I know that it's going to be done again sooner rather than later. I'm very proud that I've done that. To say about Roger, Roger was very young when we played against each other. I was very mature. I was winning majors already. Roger was 19 years old, kid, if I can say that. I remember Roger very well, how we played it. He wasn't as good at the time like he is right now. But to have that record against Roger is a big thing. I honestly did not know that I beat him three different surfaces."
Stan Smith added: "Impressive. I don't think that's ever going to be done again, certainly in the men's game of winning the singles and the doubles in a Grand Slam."
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2M6CP6M
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