Russian former world No.1s join forces as Navratilova bridges generations to team with Safina.
©Julien Crosnier / FFTRussian former world No.1s and multiple Grand Slam champions Marat Safin and Yevgeny Kafelnikov have reunited at Roland-Garros on Friday, splitting matches in Legends doubles.
The former Davis Cup-winning team-mates saw off French pair Sebastian Grosjean and Michael Llodra 3-6, 7-5, [10-6] but fell 7-5, 6-3 to German Tommy Haas and Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu.
In other Men’s Legends Under 45 matches, former Roland-Garros champion Juan Carlos Ferrero, of Spain and 1999 runner-up Andrei Mededev, of Ukraine, joined forces to beat American James Blake and Australian Mark Philippoussis 6-2, 7-5.
In Men’s Legends Over 45s, two-time Roland-Garros champion Sergi Bruguera and 2001 Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic rebounded to see off French pair Mansour Bahrami and Fabrice Santoro 4-6, 6-1, [10-8] while all-American duo, Michael Chang – the 1989 champion – and former No.1 John McEnroe, posted a 6-4, 7-5 over Moroccan Younes El Aynaoui and Frenchman Cedric Pioline.
©Julien Crosnier / FFTIn a clash of four former world No.1s, Martina Navratilova and Dinara Safina produced an impressive comeback to deny Lindsay Davenport and Arantxa Sanchez- Vicario 2-6, 7-6(5), [10-5].
The American-Russian pair made it two from two on Friday when they breezed past Slovak Daniela Hantuchova and Nathalie Tauziat 6-3, 6-2.
Conchita Martinez, the Wimbledon 1994 champion combined with Frenchwoman Sandrine Testud to beat French 2013 Wimbledon winner Marion Bartoli and 1997 Roland-Garros champion Iva Majoli, of Croatia 6-2, 7-5.
The all-French pair, Nathalie Dechy and dual slam champion Amelie Mauresmo denied the Spanish-French tandem making it two from two with a 6-2, 6-3 win.
©Corinne Dubreuil / FFT
ROLAND-GARROS
19 May - 8 June 2025
