MOSCOW -- Yevgeny Kafelnikov has insisted he is serious about plans to retire from tennis if Russia secured its first ever taste of Davis Cup glory.

"You think I'm joking about retiring from tennis, but I'm serious," the 28-year-old said after Russia secured a ticket to the Davis Cup semifinal, clinching an unassailable 3-0 lead over Sweden with two singles matches left to play.

"We have only two ties left -- with each one of those, the fans will have fewer chances to see me play," he added.

The former French and Australian Open champion suggested 30-year-old Pete Sampras, beaten by Spain's Alex Corretja in Texas on Friday, should follow his example.

"I think he should start thinking about quitting tennis when he is beaten by Corretja, especially on grass," Kafelnikov said.

But asked exactly when he would be hanging up his racket, the Russian was less keen to pinpoint a date.

"I'm sure it will be in the first week of December, when we win the Davis Cup," he said with a smile.