Andrei Cherkasov

Russian tennis player

Andrei Gennadievich Cherkasov (Андрей Геннадьевич Черкасов; born 4 July 1970) is a former professional tennis player from Russia.

Born in Ufa, Soviet Union, Cherkasov first came to the tennis world's attention as an outstanding junior player. In 1987, he was ranked the World No. 3 junior player and finished runner up in the boys' singles at the US Open (lost to David Wheaton in the final). Cherkasov turned professional in 1988. In 1990, Cherkasov claimed his first top level singles titles when he won the inaugural Kremlin Cup in Moscow, defeating Tim Mayotte in the final 6–2, 6–1. He also reached the quarter finals of the 1990 Australian Open and US Open. In June 1991 Cherkasov reached his career high singles ranking of World No. 13. In November he successfully defended his Kremlin Cup title, saving two match points in a 7–6, 3–6, 7–6 win in the final against Jakob Hlasek. In 1992, Cherkasov was a quarter finalist at the French Open and won a men's singles bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Barcelona, notably rallying from 2 sets down to beat Pete Sampras in the third round. In 1993, Cherkasov saved three match points in 3 hour, 54 minute quarter final victory over Italy's Andrea Gaudenzi at Tel Aviv, to win 6–7, 7–6, 7–5 in what was the longest best of three set match in tour history. In the end, his two victories at the Kremlin Cup in Moscow proved to be the only top level titles of Cherkasov's career. He retired from the professional tour in 2000, having earned prize money totalling $2,259,875.