Ken Flach
American tennis player (1963–2018)
Ken Flach Country (sports) United States Born (1963-05-24 ) May 24, 1963St. Louis , Missouri, USDied March 12, 2018(2018-03-12) (aged 54)San Francisco , California, US Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) Turned pro 1983 Retired 1996 [ a] Plays Right-handed (two-handed backhand) Prize money $2,059,571 Career record 52-80 Career titles 0 Highest ranking No. 56 (December 9, 1985) Australian Open 3R (1983 , 1987 ) French Open 1R (1986 , 1988 ) Wimbledon 3R (1986 , 1987 , 1988 , 1989 ) US Open 4R (1987 ) Career record 443-215 Career titles 34 Highest ranking No. 1 (October 14, 1985)Australian Open SF (1987) French Open QF (1985, 1986, 1988) Wimbledon W (1987, 1988)US Open W (1985, 1993)Tour Finals F (1987, 1991)
Kenneth Eliot Flach (May 24, 1963 – March 12, 2018)[ 1] [ 2] doubles world No. 1 tennis player. He won four Grand Slam men's doubles titles (two Wimbledon and two US Open ), and two mixed doubles titles (Wimbledon and the French Open ). He also won the men's doubles gold medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics , partnering Robert Seguso .[ 3]
Early life
Kenneth Eliot Flach was born on May 24, 1963, in St. Louis[ 4] [ 5]
Before turning professional, Flach played tennis for Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville , where he won the NCAA Division II singles championships in 1981, 1982 and 1983, and teamed with Seguso to reach the 1983 Division I doubles final.[ 6]
Flach married his first wife, model Sandra Freeman, in September 1986 and had four children together, Dylan, Madison, Noah and Hannah.[ 5]
Career
Flach played doubles on the US Davis Cup team from 1985 to 1991, compiling an 11–2 record. He was also a member of the US team which won the World Team Cup in 1985.
During his career, Flach won 36 doubles titles (34 men's doubles and 2 mixed doubles). His final career title was won in 1994 at Scottsdale, Arizona. At the US Open 1987 (second round) he won the longest fifth set tie-break to this day, 17-15 over Darren Cahill .
Following his retirement from the professional tour in 1996, Flach devoted himself to coaching. He guided Vanderbilt University to its first NCAA tournament berth in 1999. In 2003, he led the team to Vanderbilt's first NCAA championship finals appearance in any sport. He had also played in seniors events, and won the Wimbledon 35-and-over men's doubles title in 1999 and 2000.[ 4]
In 2010, after moving to California, he married makeup entrepreneur Christina Friedman, and became the director of tennis at Novato's Rolling Hills Club.[ 7] [ 8] [ 9]
Death
In early March 2018, Flach became ill with bronchitis and died from sepsis after playing 36 holes of golf. He died shortly after falling ill with his sister, brothers and four children by his side.
Kaiser Permanente settled a malpractice case for nearly $2.9 million with the family of Ken Flach in 2021.
Major finals
Grand Slam finals
Result
Year
Championship
Surface
Partner
Opponents
Score
Win
1985
US Open Hard
Robert Seguso Henri Leconte Yannick Noah 6–7(5–7) , 7–6(7–1) , 7–6(8–6) , 6–0
Win
1987
Wimbledon Grass
Sergio Casal Emilio Sánchez 3–6, 6–7(6–8) , 7–6(7–3) , 6–1, 6–4
Loss
1987
US Open
Hard
Stefan Edberg Anders Järryd 6–7(1–7) , 2–6, 6–4, 7–5, 6–7(2–7)
Win
1988
Wimbledon (2)
Grass
John Fitzgerald 6–4, 2–6, 6–4, 7–6(7–3)
Loss
1989
US Open
Hard
John McEnroe Mark Woodforde 4–6, 6–4, 3–6, 3–6
Win
1993
US Open (2)
Hard
Rick Leach Martin Damm Karel Nováček 6–7(3–7) , 6–4, 6–2
Career finals
Legend
Grand Slam (4–2)
Olympic Gold (1–0)
Tennis Masters Cup (1–2)
ATP Masters Series (2–1)
ATP Championship Series (2–3)
ATP Tour (22–16)
Finals by surface
Hard (16–15)
Clay (6–3)
Grass (5–1)
Carpet (7–5)
Result
No
Date
Tournament
Surface
Partner
Opponents
Score
Loss
1.
Dec 1983
Taipei , Taiwan
Carpet
Robert Seguso
Wally Masur Kim Warwick
6–7, 4–6
Win
1.
Jun 1984
Rome , Italy
Clay
John Alexander Mike Leach
3–6, 6–3, 6–4
Loss
2.
Jul 1984
Newport , US
Grass
David Graham Laurie Warder
4–6, 6–7
Win
2.
Jul 1984
Boston , US
Clay
Gary Donnelly Ernie Fernandez
6–4, 6–4
Win
3.
Aug 1984
Indianapolis , US
Clay
Heinz Günthardt Balázs Taróczy
7–6, 7–5
Win
4.
Sep 1984
Los Angeles , US
Hard
Wojtek Fibak Sandy Mayer
4–6, 6–4, 6–3
Win
5.
Oct 1984
Hong Kong
Hard
Mark Edmondson Paul McNamee
6–7, 6–3, 7–5
Win
6.
Nov 1984
Taipei, Taiwan
Carpet
Drew Gitlin Hank Pfister
6–1, 6–7, 6–2
Win
7.
Jan 1985
Masters Doubles WCT , London
Carpet (i)
6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 6–0
Loss
3.
Feb 1985
La Quinta , US
Hard
6–3, 6–7, 3–6
Win
8.
Apr 1985
Fort Myers , US
Hard
Sammy Giammalva Jr. David Pate
3–6, 6–3, 6–3
Loss
4.
Apr 1985
Chicago , US
Carpet (i)
Johan Kriek Yannick Noah
6–3, 6–4, 5–7, 1–6, 4–6
Win
9.
May 1985
Forest Hills , US
Clay
Givaldo Barbosa Ivan Kley
7–5, 6–2
Loss
5.
May 1985
Rome , Italy
Clay
Anders Järryd Mats Wilander
6–4, 3–6, 2–6
Win
10.
Jun 1985
Queen's Club , UK
Grass
Pat Cash John Fitzgerald
3–6, 6–3, 16–14
Win
11.
Jul 1985
Indianapolis, US
Clay
Pavel Složil Kim Warwick
6–4, 6–4
Loss
6.
Aug 1985
Stratton Mountain , US
Hard
Scott Davis 6–3, 6–7, 6–7
Win
12.
Aug 1985
Montreal , Canada
Hard
Stefan Edberg 5–7, 7–6, 6–3
Win
13.
Sep 1985
US Open , New York
Hard
Henri Leconte Yannick Noah
6–7, 7–6, 7–6, 6–0
Win
14.
Oct 1985
Tokyo Indoor , Japan
Carpet (i)
4–6, 6–3, 7–6
Win
15.
Feb 1986
Memphis , US
Carpet (i)
Guy Forget 6–4, 4–6, 7–6
Win
16.
Mar 1986
Chicago, US
Carpet (i)
Eddie Edwards Francisco González
6–0, 7–5
Win
17.
Oct 1986
Tokyo Outdoor , Japan
Carpet
Matt Anger
Jimmy Arias Greg Holmes
6–2, 6–3
Loss
7.
Mar 1987
Miami , US
Hard
Paul Annacone Christo van Rensburg
2–6, 4–6, 4–6
Loss
8.
Apr 1987
Seoul , South Korea
Hard
Jim Grabb
Eric Korita Mike Leach
7–6, 1–6, 5–7
Win
18.
Jul 1987
Wimbledon , London
Grass
Sergio Casal Emilio Sánchez
3–6, 6–7, 7–6, 6–1, 6–4
Loss
9.
Jul 1987
Livingston , US
Hard
Gary Donnelly Greg Holmes
6–7, 3–6
Win
19.
Aug 1987
Cincinnati , US
Hard
Steve Denton 7–5, 6–3
Loss
10.
Sep 1987
US Open, New York
Hard
6–7, 2–6, 6–4, 7–5, 6–7
Loss
11.
Nov 1987
Wembley , UK
Carpet (i)
Miloslav Mečíř Tomáš Šmíd
5–7, 4–6
Loss
12.
Dec 1987
Masters Doubles , London
Carpet (i)
4–6, 5–7, 7–6, 3–6
Loss
13.
Mar 1988
Miami, US
Hard
6–7, 1–6, 5–7
Win
20.
Jun 1988
Queen's Club, UK
Grass
Pieter Aldrich Danie Visser
6–2, 7–6
Win
21.
Jul 1988
Wimbledon, London
Grass
6–4, 2–6, 6–4, 7–6
Loss
14.
Aug 1988
Indianapolis , US
Hard
Rick Leach Jim Pugh
4–6, 3–6
Win
22.
Aug 1988
Toronto , Canada
Hard
Andrew Castle Tim Wilkison
7–6, 6–3
Win
23.
Sep 1988
Seoul , South Korea
Hard
6–3, 6–4, 6–7, 6–7, 9–7
Win
24.
Nov 1988
Wembley, UK
Carpet (i)
Martin Davis Brad Drewett
7–5, 6–2
Loss
15.
Nov 1988
Detroit , US
Carpet (i)
4–6, 1–6
Win
25.
Apr 1989
Tokyo Outdoor, Japan
Hard
Kevin Curren 7–6, 7–6
Win
26.
Aug 1989
Cincinnati, US
Hard
6–4, 6–4
Loss
16.
Sep 1989
US Open, New York
Hard
John McEnroe Mark Woodforde
4–6, 6–4, 3–6, 3–6
Loss
17.
Oct 1989
Orlando , US
Hard
Tim Pawsat
5–7, 7–5, 4–6
Loss
18.
Mar 1991
Miami, US
Hard
Wayne Ferreira Piet Norval
7–5, 6–7, 2–6
Win
27.
May 1991
Tampa , US
Clay
Richey Reneberg
6–7, 6–4, 6–1
Loss
19.
Jul 1991
Washington, D.C. , US
Hard
4–6, 2–6
Win
28.
Aug 1991
Cincinnati, US
Hard
Grant Connell Glenn Michibata
6–7, 6–4, 7–5
Win
29.
Aug 1991
Indianapolis, US
Hard
Kent Kinnear Sven Salumaa
7–6, 6–4
Loss
20.
Nov 1991
Doubles Championships , Johannesburg
Hard (i)
4–6, 4–6, 6–2, 4–6
Win
30.
Mar 1992
Miami, US
Hard
Todd Witsken
6–4, 6–3
Loss
21.
Jul 1992
Washington, D.C., US
Hard
Bret Garnett Jared Palmer
2–6, 3–6
Win
31.
Apr 1993
Tokyo Outdoor, Japan
Hard
2–6, 6–3, 6–4
Win
32.
Jun 1993
Manchester , UK
Grass
Stefan Kruger 6–4, 6–1
Loss
22.
Aug 1993
Indianapolis, US
Hard
Todd Martin
4–6, 4–6
Win
33.
Sep 1993
US Open, New York
Hard
Martin Damm Karel Nováček
6–7, 6–4, 6–2
Win
34.
Feb 1994
Scottsdale , US
Hard
Jan Apell
Alex O'Brien Sandon Stolle
6–0, 6–4
Loss
23.
May 1994
Coral Springs , US
Clay
Stephane Simian
Lan Bale Brett Steven
3–6, 5–7
Loss
24.
May 1996
Pinehurst , US
Clay
David Wheaton
Pat Cash Pat Rafter
2–6, 3–6
Key
W
F
SF
QF
#R
RR
Q#
DNQ
A
NH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.
Notes
^ Brief periods of activity after retiring, incl. winning two Senior Wimbledon titles with Robert Seguso.
References
^ Samulski, Michal. "Doubles legend Ken Flach has passed away at 54 after short illness (pneumonia, septic shock). He has won 6 Grand Slam titles (4 doubles, 2 mixed doubles) and men's doubles Gold Medal at 1988 Olympic Games. He reached the World No.1 doubles ranking in 1985.pic.twitter.com/wWk7v2Vbth" . ^ "Ken Flach, owner of 6 Grand Slam doubles titles, dead at 54" . Associated Press. March 13, 2018. Archived from the original on March 14, 2018 – via www.washingtonpost.com.^ "Olympic results" . Archived from the original on April 18, 2020.^ a b "Ken Flach, Who Won Six Grand Slam Doubles Titles, Dies at 54" . The New York Times . Associated Press. March 14, 2018. ISSN 0362-4331 . Retrieved February 26, 2019 .^ a b Mason, Joe (March 17, 2018). "Remembering Ken Flach: Tennis great, St. Louis native, rock star" . www.stlmag.com . Retrieved February 26, 2019 . ^ "Ken Flach, owner of six Grand Slam doubles titles, dies at 54" . USA TODAY . Retrieved February 26, 2019 .^ "Ken Flach of Mill Valley - Marin Magazine - June 2011 - Marin County, California" . www.marinmagazine.com . Retrieved March 13, 2019 .^ "Tennis: Former Olympic doubles champion Flach dies, aged 54" . Reuters . March 13, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2019 .^ Resch, Colin (January 15, 2019). "After Ex-Tennis Star Dies, Wife Aims to Raise Awareness" . NBC Bay Area . Retrieved February 26, 2019 .
External links
Current ATP world No. 1 in bold, as of week of 25 November 2024[update] [ 1] ATP rankings was introduced on 1 March 1976 1–5 6–10 11–15 16–20 21–25 26–30 31–35 36–40 41–45 46–50 51–55 56–60 61–65
(year first held/year last held – number of weeks (w)) weeks record underlined.
Demonstration Indoor Outdoor
