Kafelnikov and Davidenko - the last hopes of Russia in Monte Carlo

Evgeny Kafelnikov and Nikolai Davidenko remained the only representatives of Russia at the Masters tournament in Monte Carlo. Kafelnikov will play with the Moroccan of the Junius El Ainaui.

Kafelnikov and El Ainaui played against each other four times, and in all cases the Russian celebrated the victory. The last time these tennis players met in 2002 at the Toronto tournament, and then Kafelnikov won in a stubborn struggle with a score of 6: 7, 6: 4, 7: 5. RIA Novosti recalls that the best achievement of Kafelnikov at the tournament in Monte Carlo was the semifinals in 1994. It is curious that this was Kafelnikov's first participation in this tournament. Nine years ago, the Russian reached the semifinals, defeating the American Andre Agassi in the first circle, and in the 1/8 finals of the German Michael Stikh.

In another match of Tuesday, Nikolai Davidenko will play with the Spaniard Albert Kostya, the 27th racket of the world, known as a specialist in ground courts. These tennis players spent the only match a year ago just at the main "soil" tournament - Parisian "Roland Garros". Then, in the second round of the competition, Davidenko lost with a score - 5: 7.6: 7.2: 6. The current performance of Davidenko, who currently occupies the 20th line in the ATP ranking and is the best player in Russia, will become a debut for him at Monte Carlo, while his opponent will play in the principality of Monaco for the tenth time. The biggest success of the Costa is the access to the final of the tournament in 1996.

Recall that on the eve of the tournament in Monte Carlo, another Russian was left: Mikhail Yuzhny lost to American Vincent Songy - 1: 6, 2: 6.