By Neil Harman

Evgeny Korolev will be turning heads and not because he is a distant cousin of Anna Kournikova, who made a habit of that herself.

There is something very Kafelnikov about Korolev, and Yevgeny of that ilk became the world No 1 and lifted this championship ten years ago before setting out on a new career as a poker player. Korolev has the same square face — although Kafelnikov’s has filled out enormously since he became a former player — blond hair and inquisitive eyes as his compatriot and, at 18, is blessed with all the requisite athletic attributes.

Yesterday, when clouds scudded and branches bent, Korolev kept his nerve strong and senses sharp to come from two sets to one down and defeat Andreas Seppi, of Italy, 6-3, 3-6, 3-6, 7-5, 6-1. Already this spring he has defeated Carlos Moya, the champion at Roland Garros in 1998, on his native Spanish clay.