Fischer and Kafelnikov = my youth racketlove, Part 2

[Kalugin]

As I announced previously, here you are – the second part of my Fischer-Kafelnikov-My youth post.
In the first part I told you that I became a huge tennis (=Kafelnikov) fan in 1995. Roland-Garros. Every evening I watched 30-minutes highlights on our First Channel. That was it. No more information, plus few sports newspapers.

I remember how Kafelnikov defeated then no 1 Agassi in quarterfinals with Anatoly Lepeshin in the stands…what a day it was, and what a result! I remember that blue Fischer in Kafelnikovs hands. The racket that was a synonym of a victory and top-level tennis for me!
By that time Kafelnikovs coach was that man in the stands - Lepeshin, who actually was a creator of Kafelnikov success.

In the beginning of his tennis education Yevgeny started training with Valery Shishkin – a tennis coach from Sochi. They worked together for 12 years (1979-1991). But then the country faced dissolution of the Soviet Union. Plus Kafelnikov needed something like a new gear in his tennis. Kafelnikovs puzzle was completed when the ex-head coach of Soviet youth team Anatoly Lepeshin made an offer by himself – he offered Kafelnikovs parents to work with their son. Since that time Yevgeny Kafelnikov made a huge progress.

This progress indicated not only in tennis results, but in some business moments like signing a contract with Fischer. In his interviews Kafelnikov mentioned that the main builder of his success was Lepeshin. The coach that worked with Yevgeny from 1991 till 1997. 1997 was also a release year of a documentary movie named Kafelnikov, where Yevgeny and Lepeshin talked a lot and sincerely about their working tandem.

That was a prelude (hopefully interesting) for a story of my racket. When Kafelnikov worked with Lepeshin I was a charmed boy. Charmed by tennis in general for sure, but mainly for Kafelnikovs reason. Quarter of century ago I couldnt imagine that one day I will have a huge collection of top tennis rackets. And one of the rarest diamonds of it will be…rackets from Anatoly Lepeshin collection. I was lucky to get few sticks that were a real proud of that collection. Both came from Lepeshins Fischer friends. After finishing his work with Kafelnikov, Lepeshin moved to Austria and worked there. He had strong connections with top Austrian tennis people, and with Fischer too.
The first stick is absolutely brand new Fischer Vaccum Mid Pro. I have information that it could be connected either with Henri Leconte, Jacob Hlasek or Pat Cash.
The second one - is the real treasure for tennis fans, not only in Russia. It’s a racket that was exclusively made and customized for a new (by that time) Fischer star – Yevgeny Kafelnikov. You can see Fischer Pro Stock trademark - aka nail mark at the throat area. KJ23 = Kafelnikov Jevgeny and the number of rackets that were produced for him by that time.

Strangely Austrian Kafelnikovs sponsors prefered to write his name with J instead of international version that used Y letter. So from number 23 we understand – this racket is right from the very first Fischer branches made for Kafelnikov. Also in the handle we can find a doze of silicone. No lead tape – as Kafelnikov didn’t use them.
The uniqueness of this racket in few moments. A real personal racket of an ex-no 1 player in the world that was never used! Not a single stringing!

Where you can find a racket like this one?! And don’t forget – this is a racket that was a golden part of Anatoly Lepeshin collection. The man who made a great tennis champion named Yevgeny Kafelnikov.

And now im back in my memories into those Roland-Garros-1995 days. Blue Fischer in Kafelnikov hands, Lepeshin in the stands…if somebody then told me that I will be the owner of Kafelnikovs racket that came directly from Lepeshins collection…oh, come on, stop me) One thing I know for sure – our life is a miracle!

1990 - First tennis memory: Roland-Garros final, Agassi - Gomez
1995 - First tournament as a deep and true tennis fan: Roland-Garros via TV
2008 - Photo with Roland-Garros Trophy made on Philippe Chatrier Arena

2023 - Yevgeny Kafelnikov personal racket

PS I will make a special thread about that personal Kafelnikov racket - with all the specs and detailed photos + im planning to write the final, 3rd part of this "Fischer and Kafelnikov = my youth racketlove". A lot of photos (me with Davis Cup, with Maria Sharapova, with Marat Safin) and interesting moments from my tennis youth.

Thank you very much, Fischer is forever!

Me playing my fav Kafelnikovs mold Fischer:

 

[retrowagen]

Wonderful post; thank you for sharing this personal history and more details about your collection!

The engraving on your Kafelnikov personal pro stock frame is typical of the Fischer factory “pro room” of that time. A sponsored professional would be given a number of frames to use for the year, set up to their specifications after some time practicing with the Fischer engineers and technicians in the early year… sometimes 30-40 frames total for their higher-ranked players! On factory-supported racquets their pro room shop did engrave the initials of the player on the frame, as pictured, along with a number. I have a few pro stock Fischer frames myself, including a 1992 Vacuum Pro Mid that was Kelly Evernden’s, engraved by hand “KE 20” with the same messy tool in the same location on the frame in letters and numbers of the same approximate size. Perhaps by the same person?

In the German language, the letter J sounds as close to the letter Y in the English language as possible, therefore the letters used for “Kafelnikov Jevgeni.” (I believe that the actual German equivalent name for Yevgeny is Eugen, however…)

Didn’t Yevgeny Kafelnikov play club tennis for a large German club early in his professional career? I seem to remember that both he and Andrei Medvedev did (and probably a number of the other really good Russian players of the early 1990’s) as a way to make money and attract more sponsors. They sold a lot of Fischer racquets to club players in Germany, no doubt!

A personal friend of mine was the engineer and project manager assigned to pro player equipment and development at Fischer in the years 1990-1993, and he explained details of their program to me.

 

[Kalugin]

Wonderful post; thank you for sharing this personal history and more details about your collection!

The engraving on your Kafelnikov personal pro stock frame is typical of the Fischer factory “pro room” of that time. A sponsored professional would be given a number of frames to use for the year, set up to their specifications after some time practicing with the Fischer engineers and technicians in the early year… sometimes 30-40 frames total for their higher-ranked players! On factory-supported racquets their pro room shop did engrave the initials of the player on the frame, as pictured, along with a number. I have a few pro stock Fischer frames myself, including a 1992 Vacuum Pro Mid that was Kelly Evernden’s, engraved by hand “KE 20” with the same messy tool in the same location on the frame in letters and numbers of the same approximate size. Perhaps by the same person?

In the German language, the letter J sounds as close to the letter Y in the English language as possible, therefore the letters used for “Kafelnikov Jevgeni.” (I believe that the actual German equivalent name for Yevgeny is Eugen, however…)

Didn’t Yevgeny Kafelnikov play club tennis for a large German club early in his professional career? I seem to remember that both he and Andrei Medvedev did (and probably a number of the other really good Russian players of the early 1990’s) as a way to make money and attract more sponsors. They sold a lot of Fischer racquets to club players in Germany, no doubt!

A personal friend of mine was the engineer and project manager assigned to pro player equipment and development at Fischer in the years 1990-1993, and he explained details of their program to me.

Thank you very much for another outstanding reaction and review! Thats the level of conversation i was looking for all my tennis years! Lots of top and basic information about Fischer Pro Stocks. I also have been told that Fischer made around 40 rackets (per year) for Kafelnikov. So #23 indicates that this racket is from his first year with Fischer. And yes, seems like it was one person who made all these Pro Stock engravings, cause the type of handwritings is pretty the same. I saw Stichs stick and the handwriting was made in the same style.
As a Fischer fan i have few questions for Fischer guru:
Do you know ATP names that used Marble Vacuum Twin Tec Mid Pro and TT Pro (besides Steeb)?
Ive heard that TT Mid Pro is trully a diamond for any collection, as it very rare.
Who used Twin Tec Pro First Edition (besides Gustafsson)?
And what do you think about RA numbers for these TT models?
I believe RA for Kafelnikov mold is around 62?

 

[retrowagen]

Thank you very much for another outstanding reaction and review! Thats the level of conversation i was looking for all my tennis years! Lots of top and basic information about Fischer Pro Stocks. I also have been told that Fischer made around 40 rackets (per year) for Kafelnikov. So #23 indicates that this racket is from his first year with Fischer. And yes, seems like it was one person who made all these Pro Stock engravings, cause the type of handwritings is pretty the same. I saw Stichs stick and the handwriting was made in the same style.
As a Fischer fan i have few questions for Fischer guru:
Do you know ATP names that used Marble Vacuum Twin Tec Mid Pro and TT Pro (besides Steeb)?
Ive heard that TT Mid Pro is trully a diamond for any collection, as it very rare.
Who used Twin Tec Pro First Edition (besides Gustafsson)?
And what do you think about RA numbers for these TT models?
I believe RA for Kafelnikov mold is around 62?

I’m not familiar with pros who used the Vacuum Twin Tec Pro in 1990-1992, other than Steeb and perhaps Magnus Gustafsson. He was not a pro yet, and not supplied directly from Fischer in Ried, but Justin Gimelstob used the 1991 Vacuum Twin Tec Pro as the #1 ranked boys 14-year old. Evidently his father bought a number of the frames and had them modified by Warren Bosworth’s shop (mostly in replacing the standard synthetic grip with a leather grip). I have one of these very frames in my personal collection.

The Vacuum Twin Tec Mid and Pro Mid were very rare. Fischer made 500 of the Mid, plus another 25 preproduction frames (with production graphics but different paint colors than used in the series production). By sheer good luck, I have one of these 25 frames in my collection as well, in as-new condition.

I don’t have access to an RDC machine, but I can make an estimate that the stiffness of the Vacuum Twin Tec Pro midplus is approximately RA 66 — rather stiff for a Fischer. However, I have never experienced any arm problems with it, likely because the racquets I use are approximately 350-360g and I use gut or synthetic gut strings and have smooth strokes.

 

[tmatila]

This shows Magnus Gustafsson with Twin Tec Pro, yet not with the marble one. Looks quite a pro in the autograph post card.

TT Mid Pro is surely one of my Fischer favorites, had mine since about 92. Perfect warm-up tool, use it maybe once-twice a year or so. Sure it seems rare, but was not endorsed by any pro, as far as I know. So I would not see it as a rare collector item with great value. (Yet I will not sell mine, for obvious personal reasons).

 

[Kalugin]

I’m not familiar with pros who used the Vacuum Twin Tec Pro in 1990-1992, other than Steeb and perhaps Magnus Gustafsson. He was not a pro yet, and not supplied directly from Fischer in Ried, but Justin Gimelstob used the 1991 Vacuum Twin Tec Pro as the #1 ranked boys 14-year old. Evidently his father bought a number of the frames and had them modified by Warren Bosworth’s shop (mostly in replacing the standard synthetic grip with a leather grip). I have one of these very frames in my personal collection.

The Vacuum Twin Tec Mid and Pro Mid were very rare. Fischer made 500 of the Mid, plus another 25 preproduction frames (with production graphics but different paint colors than used in the series production). By sheer good luck, I have one of these 25 frames in my collection as well, in as-new condition.

I don’t have access to an RDC machine, but I can make an estimate that the stiffness of the Vacuum Twin Tec Pro midplus is approximately RA 66 — rather stiff for a Fischer. However, I have never experienced any arm problems with it, likely because the racquets I use are approximately 350-360g and I use gut or synthetic gut strings and have smooth strokes.

Thank you once more, you are a perfect Fischer companion! How interestingly: ive read that your all time great is Elite Pro (also have this emerald in my collection). Elite Pro is almost noodles in terms of RA, and Fischer TT Pro is 66 - super stiff in comparison with Elite Pro, but you like both) anyway, i believe Head and Fischer quality of the end of 80-es - beginning of 90-es was the best ever!
Very interesting about Gimelstob - how US teen pro preferred european racket, not Wilson or something more US)

This shows Magnus Gustafsson with Twin Tec Pro, yet not with the marble one. Looks quite a pro in the autograph post card.

TT Mid Pro is surely one of my Fischer favorites, had mine since about 92. Perfect warm-up tool, use it maybe once-twice a year or so. Sure it seems rare, but was not endorsed by any pro, as far as I know. So I would not see it as a rare collector item with great value. (Yet I will not sell mine, for obvious personal reasons).

Super interestingly info with those cards, thank you!
Im sure Gustafsson used the first edition of TT Pro, not the marble one that became popular after Steeb.
It was also TT Pro without Mid in namings. What were the differences between these two? @retrowagen

 

[Kalugin]

I’m not familiar with pros who used the Vacuum Twin Tec Pro in 1990-1992, other than Steeb and perhaps Magnus Gustafsson. He was not a pro yet, and not supplied directly from Fischer in Ried, but Justin Gimelstob used the 1991 Vacuum Twin Tec Pro as the #1 ranked boys 14-year old. Evidently his father bought a number of the frames and had them modified by Warren Bosworth’s shop (mostly in replacing the standard synthetic grip with a leather grip). I have one of these very frames in my personal collection.

The Vacuum Twin Tec Mid and Pro Mid were very rare. Fischer made 500 of the Mid, plus another 25 preproduction frames (with production graphics but different paint colors than used in the series production). By sheer good luck, I have one of these 25 frames in my collection as well, in as-new condition.

I don’t have access to an RDC machine, but I can make an estimate that the stiffness of the Vacuum Twin Tec Pro midplus is approximately RA 66 — rather stiff for a Fischer. However, I have never experienced any arm problems with it, likely because the racquets I use are approximately 350-360g and I use gut or synthetic gut strings and have smooth strokes.

You wrote "The Vacuum Twin Tec Mid and Pro Mid were very rare. Fischer made 500 of the Mid". So Mid is more rare than Pro Mid?

 

[daddabompa]

I’m not familiar with pros who used the Vacuum Twin Tec Pro in 1990-1992, other than Steeb and perhaps Magnus Gustafsson. He was not a pro yet, and not supplied directly from Fischer in Ried, but Justin Gimelstob used the 1991 Vacuum Twin Tec Pro as the #1 ranked boys 14-year old. Evidently his father bought a number of the frames and had them modified by Warren Bosworth’s shop (mostly in replacing the standard synthetic grip with a leather grip). I have one of these very frames in my personal collection.

The Vacuum Twin Tec Mid and Pro Mid were very rare. Fischer made 500 of the Mid, plus another 25 preproduction frames (with production graphics but different paint colors than used in the series production). By sheer good luck, I have one of these 25 frames in my collection as well, in as-new condition.

I don’t have access to an RDC machine, but I can make an estimate that the stiffness of the Vacuum Twin Tec Pro midplus is approximately RA 66 — rather stiff for a Fischer. However, I have never experienced any arm problems with it, likely because the racquets I use are approximately 350-360g and I use gut or synthetic gut strings and have smooth strokes.

Any chance to see a pic of yours pre-production frame?
Quite curious actually

 

[NicoMK]

Top notch posts here, so cool to be amongst Fischer fan(anatics)! I wonder sometimes if ex or current employees at Fischer read our posts and if some are nostalgic of the time when they were producing exquisite rackets.

@Kalugin : I'm looking forward to read your post about Yevgueny's personal frame, by the way a beautiful frame!

A few years ago I came across a pair of Vacuum Pro Classics which belonged to Mats Wilander, he used them in 1994 and 1995 as you Fischer experts may probably know. I remember the MW engraved in the throat. I can't remember for which fallacious reason I didn't buy them, money maybe.

Anyway, great to read such expertise by you all @retrowagen @tmatila @Kalugin of a brand that we all cherish.

Any more info : sponsorship, pro stocks, engineering etc. and pics of course are very much welcome

 

[Kalugin]

Top notch posts here, so cool to be amongst Fischer fan(anatics)! I wonder sometimes if ex or current employees at Fischer read our posts and if some are nostalgic of the time when they were producing exquisite rackets.

@Kalugin : I'm looking forward to read your post about Yevgueny's personal frame, by the way a beautiful frame!

A few years ago I came across a pair of Vacuum Pro Classics which belonged to Mats Wilander, he used them in 1994 and 1995 as you Fischer experts may probably know. I remember the MW engraved in the throat. I can't remember for which fallacious reason I didn't buy them, money maybe.

Anyway, great to read such expertise by you all @retrowagen @tmatila @Kalugin of a brand that we all cherish.

Any more info : sponsorship, pro stocks, engineering etc. and pics of course are very much welcome

Man, thanks a lot! Im very glad that on such a big planet of different people and their different tastes we have found our tag line - Fischer rackets!

I will write a post about Kafelnikov racket next weekend.

And today i want to share with you my happiness. Today, in my second wedding anniversary i...gave a chance to my all time live rackets love - Fischers. Few years ago, while still using VT Pro 98 and red and silver Pro 1, i had some issues with elbow. Since that time i was afraid to play full power with my beloved frames. And i have met Head Pro Tour 630. Actually it was love from first strike.

But on a wave of all our discussions these days, i felt that i strongly missing that unbelievable Fischer feeling and today i gave a chance to few rackets that i used for 20 years!
And, man...what a feeling it was! So clean, so plush. And, yes, it was a trully magic, like it was all that my Fischer years! I was sooooo happy to re-open that feeling with these two beauties - VT Pro 98 and Pro 1 (320 grams)!

And i wish to all of you, my Fischer friends, to have this special Fischer feeling! And not forget it!

 

[NicoMK]

Man, thanks a lot! Im very glad that on such a big planet of different people and their different tastes we have found our tag line - Fischer rackets!

I will write a post about Kafelnikov racket next weekend.

And today i want to share with you my happiness. Today, in my second wedding anniversary i...gave a chance to my all time live rackets love - Fischers. Few years ago, while still using VT Pro 98 and red and silver Pro 1, i had some issues with elbow. Since that time i was afraid to play full power with my beloved frames. And i have met Head Pro Tour 630. Actually it was love from first strike.

But on a wave of all our discussions these days, i felt that i strongly missing that unbelievable Fischer feeling and today i gave a chance to few rackets that i used for 20 years!
And, man...what a feeling it was! So clean, so plush. And, yes, it was a trully magic, like it was all that my Fischer years! I was sooooo happy to re-open that feeling with these two beauties - VT Pro 98 and Pro 1 (320 grams)!

And i wish to all of you, my Fischer friends, to have this special Fischer feeling! And not forget it!

Great rackets they are. I've hit with mine recently but for some reason I've always preferred the Vacuum Plus Pro (or Pro Classic 98). They are close but not quite the same.

@Kalugin, there are some really informative posts about Fischer around here, the "Fischer faction" thread of course but there are others, of which I can't remember all, but if you do a search, you'll find them.

 

[Kalugin]

Great rackets they are. I've hit with mine recently but for some reason I've always preferred the Vacuum Plus Pro (or Pro Classic 98). They are close but not quite the same.

@Kalugin, there are some really informative posts about Fischer around here, the "Fischer faction" thread of course but there are others, of which I can't remember all, but if you do a search, you'll find them.

Actually two different rackets with different molds: VT Pro 98/Pro 1 is tapered beam, and Pro Classic is constant beam) Anyway, a great classic racket too!

 

[tmatila]

Friendly reminder for all the Twin Tec fans. This post by @retrowagen is pure gold (or silicon carbide, if you prefer):

https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/fischer-twin-tec.677397/

This might also be interesting to some of you:

My own blog writing (based on about 90% less actual facts and information) might be of some interest, as well:

Tommin melontaa ja muuta

My history with Fischer tennis rackets Introduction Many people who know me probably do not consider me as collector. But I admit, I have ...

tommimeloo.blogspot.com

 

[Kalugin]

Friendly reminder for all the Twin Tec fans. This post by @retrowagen is pure gold (or silicon carbide, if you prefer):

https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/fischer-twin-tec.677397/

This might also be interesting to some of you:

My own blog writing (based on about 90% less actual facts and information) might be of some interest, as well:

Tommin melontaa ja muuta

My history with Fischer tennis rackets Introduction Many people who know me probably do not consider me as collector. But I admit, I have ...

tommimeloo.blogspot.com

Man, all i want to say after just finished reading your article is - T H A T is H U G E!!! It was a pure joy to read all this info while having lunch this rainy Moscow day. Thank you for your trully Fischer passion and your knowledge!
I agree, that smoky, or as i call it - marble paintjob with Durr design is probably the best that tennis world have ever seen in terms of paintjobs.
I also liked very much Elliptic Kevlar racket, such a beautiful masterpiece!
I have a question. I want to understand: they had TT Mid Pro and TT Mid Plus Pro, but also the same line but without "Pro". Is that mean that "Pro" line is more high quality and top line? What are the differences between "Pro" line (both Mid and Mid Plus) and non "Pro"?
I also will take few pictures of my own Fischer collection, and show you, my Fischer friends. But im firstly specialist in VT Pro 98 / Pro 1 mold, as its my choice of weapon)
Have a good day for all of you!

 

[tmatila]

"TT Pro" and "TT" are the same 98 square inch mold.
"TT Mid Pro" and "TT Mid" are the same 90 square inch mold.

I have NOT seen racket with a name "TT Mid Plus Pro". The "TT Pro" is of "mid plus"-size of the era. Please send pictures, if you have.

I suppose the difference between Pro and non-Pro is the material lay-up. Never really liked to play with the "TT", which feels heavy and clunky. TT Pro is just a hair lighter and feels (Fischer-y) good. Maybe I should re-string it and give it a go in the court. Been too long unused...

 

[Kalugin]

"TT Pro" and "TT" are the same 98 square inch mold.
"TT Mid Pro" and "TT Mid" are the same 90 square inch mold.

I have NOT seen racket with a name "TT Mid Plus Pro". The "TT Pro" is of "mid plus"-size of the era. Please send pictures, if you have.

I suppose the difference between Pro and non-Pro is the material lay-up. Never really liked to play with the "TT", which feels heavy and clunky. TT Pro is just a hair lighter and feels (Fischer-y) good. Maybe I should re-string it and give it a go in the court. Been too long unused...

TT Mid Plus Pro = i meant TT Pro. Thanks for your answer about differences. Yeah, as i thought non-Pro TT is like a "budget" version of TT Pro with with a "budget" layup.