Ken Flach
This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2018) |
Country (sports) | ![]() |
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Residence | Mill Valley, California, U.S. |
Born | St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. | May 24, 1963
Died | March 12, 2018 San Francisco, California, U.S. | (aged 54)
Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
Turned pro | 1983 |
Retired | 1996 (brief periods of activity 2009-2011) |
Plays | Right-handed (2-handed backhand) |
Prize money | US$ 2,064,571 |
Singles | |
Career record | 52-80 |
Career titles | 0 |
Highest ranking | No. 56 (December 9, 1985) |
Grand Slam singles results | |
Australian Open | 3R (1983, 1987) |
French Open | 1R (1986, 1988) |
Wimbledon | 3R (1986, 1987, 1988, 1989) |
US Open | 4R (1987) |
Doubles | |
Career record | 443-215 |
Career titles | 34 |
Highest ranking | No. 1 (October 14, 1985) |
Grand Slam doubles results | |
Australian Open | SF (1987) |
French Open | QF (1985, 1986, 1988) |
Wimbledon | W (1987, 1988) |
US Open | W (1985, 1993) |
Other doubles tournaments | |
Tour Finals | F (1987, 1991) |
Medal record |
Kenneth Eliot Flach (May 24, 1963 – March 12, 2018)[1][2] was a professional tennis player from the United States. A doubles specialist, he won four Grand Slam men's doubles titles (two Wimbledon and two US Open), and two Grand Slam mixed doubles titles (Wimbledon and French Open). He also won the men's doubles Gold Medal at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, partnering Robert Seguso.[3] Flach reached the world no. 1 doubles ranking in 1985.
Flach played doubles on the U.S. Davis Cup team from 1985–1991, compiling an 11–2 record. He was also a member of the U.S. 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.
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.
Following his retirement from the professional tour, 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.
In early March, after playing 36 holes of golf, Flach fell ill with bronchitis, which in a matter of four days turned into pneumonia and then into sepsis[4]. Flach died on March 12, 2018, aged 54, from sepsis at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center.[5][6]
Major finals
Grand Slam finals
Men's doubles: 6 (4 titles, 2 runners-up)
Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winner | 1985 | US Open | Hard | ![]() |
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6–7(5–7), 7–6(7–1), 7–6(8–6), 6–0 |
Winner | 1987 | Wimbledon | Grass | ![]() |
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3–6, 6–7(6–8), 7–6(7–3), 6–1, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 1987 | US Open | Hard | ![]() |
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6–7(1–7), 2–6, 6–4, 7–5, 6–7(2–7) |
Winner | 1988 | Wimbledon (2) | Grass | ![]() |
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6–4, 2–6, 6–4, 7–6(7–3) |
Runner-up | 1989 | US Open | Hard | ![]() |
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4–6, 6–4, 3–6, 3–6 |
Winner | 1993 | US Open (2) | Hard | ![]() |
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6–7(3–7), 6–4, 6–2 |
Mixed doubles: 2 (2 titles)
Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winner | 1986 | French Open | Clay | ![]() |
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3–6, 7–6(7–3), 6–3 |
Winner | 1986 | Wimbledon | Grass | ![]() |
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6–3, 7–6(9–7) |
Olympic men's doubles final
Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gold | 1988 | Seoul Olympics | Hard | ![]() |
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6–3, 6–4, 6–7(5–7), 6–7(1–7), 9–7 |
Doubles finals (58)
Wins (34)
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Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents in the final | Score in the final |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Runner-up | 1. | December 12, 1983 | Taipei, Taiwan | Carpet | ![]() |
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6–7, 4–6 |
Winner | 1. | June 11, 1984 | Rome, Italy | Clay | ![]() |
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3–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 2. | July 16, 1984 | Newport, United States | Grass | ![]() |
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4–6, 6–7 |
Winner | 2. | July 23, 1984 | Boston, United States | Clay | ![]() |
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6–4, 6–4 |
Winner | 3. | August 13, 1984 | Indianapolis, United States | Clay | ![]() |
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7–6, 7–5 |
Winner | 4. | September 17, 1984 | Los Angeles, United States | Hard | ![]() |
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4–6, 6–4, 6–3 |
Winner | 5. | October 29, 1984 | Hong Kong | Hard | ![]() |
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6–7, 6–3, 7–5 |
Winner | 6. | November 6, 1984 | Taipei, Taiwan | Carpet | ![]() |
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6–1, 6–7, 6–2 |
Winner | 7. | January 6, 1985 | Masters Doubles WCT, London | Carpet | ![]() |
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6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 6–0 |
Runner-up | 3. | February 25, 1985 | La Quinta, United States | Hard | ![]() |
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6–3, 6–7, 3–6 |
Winner | 8. | April 1, 1985 | Fort Myers, United States | Hard | ![]() |
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3–6, 6–3, 6–3 |
Runner-up | 4. | April 8, 1985 | Chicago, United States | Carpet | ![]() |
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6–3, 6–4, 5–7, 1–6, 4–6 |
Winner | 9. | May 13, 1985 | Forest Hills, United States | Clay | ![]() |
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7–5, 6–2 |
Runner-up | 5. | May 20, 1985 | Rome, Italy | Clay | ![]() |
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6–4, 3–6, 2–6 |
Winner | 10. | June 17, 1985 | London/Queen's Club, England | Grass | ![]() |
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3–6, 6–3, 16–14 |
Winner | 11. | July 29, 1985 | Indianapolis, United States | Clay | ![]() |
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6–4, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 6. | August 12, 1985 | Stratton Mountain, United States | Hard | ![]() |
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6–3, 6–7, 6–7 |
Winner | 12. | August 19, 1985 | Montreal, Canada | Hard | ![]() |
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5–7, 7–6, 6–3 |
Winner | 13. | September 9, 1985 | U.S. Open, New York | Hard | ![]() |
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6–7, 7–6, 7–6, 6–0 |
Winner | 14. | October 28, 1985 | Tokyo Indoor, Japan | Carpet | ![]() |
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4–6, 6–3, 7–6 |
Winner | 15. | February 10, 1986 | Memphis, United States | Carpet | ![]() |
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6–4, 4–6, 7–6 |
Winner | 16. | March 31, 1986 | Chicago, United States | Carpet | ![]() |
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6–0, 7–5 |
Winner | 17. | October 20, 1986 | Tokyo Outdoor, Japan | Carpet | ![]() |
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6–2, 6–3 |
Runner-up | 7. | March 9, 1987 | Miami, United States | Hard | ![]() |
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2–6, 4–6, 4–6 |
Runner-up | 8. | April 27, 1987 | Seoul, South Korea | Hard | ![]() |
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7–6, 1–6, 5–7 |
Winner | 18. | July 6, 1987 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | ![]() |
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3–6, 6–7, 7–6, 6–1, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 9. | July 20, 1987 | Livingston, New Jersey, United States | Hard | ![]() |
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6–7, 3–6 |
Winner | 19. | August 24, 1987 | Cincinnati, United States | Hard | ![]() |
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7–5, 6–3 |
Runner-up | 10. | September 14, 1987 | U.S. Open, New York | Hard | ![]() |
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6–7, 2–6, 6–4, 7–5, 6–7 |
Runner-up | 11. | November 16, 1987 | Wembley, England | Carpet | ![]() |
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5–7, 4–6 |
Runner-up | 12. | December 13, 1987 | Masters Doubles, London | Carpet | ![]() |
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4–6, 5–7, 7–6, 3–6 |
Runner-up | 13. | March 28, 1988 | Miami, United States | Hard | ![]() |
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6–7, 1–6, 5–7 |
Winner | 20. | June 13, 1988 | London/Queen's Club, England | Grass | ![]() |
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6–2, 7–6 |
Winner | 21. | July 4, 1988 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | ![]() |
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6–4, 2–6, 6–4, 7–6 |
Runner-up | 14. | August 2, 1988 | Indianapolis, United States | Hard | ![]() |
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4–6, 3–6 |
Winner | 22. | August 15, 1988 | Toronto, Canada | Hard | ![]() |
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7–6, 6–3 |
Winner | 23. | September 26, 1988 | Seoul, South Korea | Hard | ![]() |
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6–3, 6–4, 6–7, 6–7, 9–7 |
Winner | 24. | November 14, 1988 | Wembley, England | Carpet | ![]() |
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7–5, 6–2 |
Runner-up | 15. | November 21, 1988 | Detroit, United States | Carpet | ![]() |
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4–6, 1–6 |
Winner | 25. | April 24, 1989 | Tokyo Outdoor, Japan | Hard | ![]() |
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7–6, 7–6 |
Winner | 26. | August 21, 1989 | Cincinnati, United States | Hard | ![]() |
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6–4, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 16. | September 11, 1989 | U.S. Open, New York | Hard | ![]() |
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4–6, 6–4, 3–6, 3–6 |
Runner-up | 17. | October 9, 1989 | Orlando, United States | Hard | ![]() |
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5–7, 7–5, 4–6 |
Runner-up | 18. | March 25, 1991 | Miami, United States | Hard | ![]() |
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7–5, 6–7, 2–6 |
Winner | 27. | May 6, 1991 | Tampa, United States | Clay | ![]() |
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6–7, 6–4, 6–1 |
Runner-up | 19. | July 22, 1991 | Washington, D.C., United States | Hard | ![]() |
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4–6, 2–6 |
Winner | 28. | August 12, 1991 | Cincinnati, United States | Hard | ![]() |
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6–7, 6–4, 7–5 |
Winner | 29. | August 19, 1991 | Indianapolis, United States | Hard | ![]() |
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7–6, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 20. | November 24, 1991 | Doubles Championships, Johannesburg | Hard (i) | ![]() |
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4–6, 4–6, 6–2, 4–6 |
Winner | 30. | March 23, 1992 | Miami, United States | Hard | ![]() |
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6–4, 6–3 |
Runner-up | 21. | July 20, 1992 | Washington, D.C., United States | Hard | ![]() |
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2–6, 3–6 |
Winner | 31. | April 12, 1993 | Tokyo Outdoor, Japan | Hard | ![]() |
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2–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
Winner | 32. | June 21, 1993 | Manchester, England | Grass | ![]() |
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6–4, 6–1 |
Runner-up | 22. | August 23, 1993 | Indianapolis, United States | Hard | ![]() |
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4–6, 4–6 |
Winner | 33. | September 13, 1993 | U.S. Open, New York | Hard | ![]() |
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6–7, 6–4, 6–2 |
Winner | 34. | February 28, 1994 | Scottsdale, United States | Hard | ![]() |
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6–0, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 23. | May 16, 1994 | Coral Springs, United States | Clay | ![]() |
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3–6, 5–7 |
Runner-up | 24. | May 13, 1996 | Pinehurst, United States | Clay | ![]() |
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2–6, 3–6 |
Doubles performance timeline
Tournament | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | Career SR | Career Win-Loss |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grand Slams | ||||||||||||||||
Australian Open | 3R | 2R | A | NH | SF | A | A | A | A | A | A | QF | A | 1R | 0 / 5 | 8–5 |
French Open | A | 1R | QF | QF | A | QF | A | 2R | 2R | 2R | 2R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 0 / 11 | 13–11 |
Wimbledon | A | 3R | 1R | QF | W | W | SF | QF | 3R | 3R | 2R | 2R | 1R | 1R | 2 / 13 | 30–11 |
U.S. Open | 1R | 2R | W | A | F | SF | F | 3R | SF | 2R | W | 1R | QF | 1R | 2 / 13 | 37–10 |
Grand Slam SR | 0 / 2 | 0 / 4 | 1 / 3 | 0 / 2 | 1 / 3 | 1 / 3 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 3 | 1 / 3 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 4 | 4 / 42 | N/A |
Annual Win-Loss | 2–2 | 3–4 | 9–2 | 6–2 | 14–2 | 13–2 | 9–2 | 6–2 | 7–3 | 4–3 | 8–2 | 4–4 | 3–3 | 0–4 | N/A | 88–37 |
ATP Masters Series | ||||||||||||||||
Indian Wells | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 |
2R | 2R | 2R | QF | 2R | A | 1R | 0 / 6 | 4–6 | ||||||
Miami | 2R | F | W | 2R | 3R | A | 2R | 1 / 6 | 12–5 | |||||||
Monte Carlo | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | |||||||
Rome | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | |||||||
Hamburg | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | |||||||
Canada | 1R | SF | 2R | A | A | A | 1R | 0 / 4 | 3–4 | |||||||
Cincinnati | 2R | W | QF | 2R | 2R | A | A | 1 / 5 | 10–4 | |||||||
Stuttgart (Stockholm) | A | 2R | A | 2R | A | A | A | 0 / 2 | 0–2 | |||||||
Paris | A | SF | 2R | 2R | A | A | A | 0 / 3 | 3–3 | |||||||
Masters Series SR | N/A | 0 / 4 | 1 / 6 | 1 / 5 | 0 / 5 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 0 | 0 / 3 | 2 / 26 | N/A | ||||||
Annual Win-Loss | N/A | 2–4 | 16–5 | 8–4 | 3–5 | 2–3 | 0–0 | 1–3 | N/A | 32–24 | ||||||
Year End Ranking | 103 | 11 | 2 | 19 | 5 | 2 | 11 | 76 | 5 | 60 | 23 | 90 | 121 | 141 | N/A |
A = did not attend tournament
NH = tournament not held
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".
- ^ Press, Associated (March 13, 2018). "Ken Flach, owner of 6 Grand Slam doubles titles, dead at 54" – via www.washingtonpost.com.
- ^ "Olympic results".
- ^ "Ken Flach: 1963-2018 | ATP World Tour | Tennis". ATP World Tour. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
- ^ "Tennis: Former Olympic doubles champion Flach dies, aged 54". Reuters. March 13, 2018.
- ^ "Ken Flach: 1963-2018". ATP. March 13, 2018.
External links
- Ken Flach at the Association of Tennis Professionals
- {{ITF profile}} template using deprecated numeric ID.
- Ken Flach at the Davis Cup
- 1963 births
- 2018 deaths
- American male tennis players
- American tennis coaches
- French Open champions
- Olympic gold medalists for the United States in tennis
- Olympic tennis players of the United States
- Sportspeople from St. Louis
- SIU Edwardsville Cougars men's tennis players
- Tennis people from Missouri
- Tennis players at the 1988 Summer Olympics
- US Open (tennis) champions
- Wimbledon champions
- Grand Slam (tennis) champions in mixed doubles
- Grand Slam (tennis) champions in men's doubles
- People from Alpharetta, Georgia
- Medalists at the 1988 Summer Olympics
- Tennis people from Georgia (U.S. state)
- Sportspeople from Fulton County, Georgia
- Vanderbilt Commodores men's tennis coaches