Country (sports) | ![]() | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Residence | Novato, 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 (185 cm) | |||||||||||||
Turned pro | 1983 | |||||||||||||
Retired | 1996 (brief periods of activity after retiring, including winning two Senior Wimbledon titles with Robert Seguso) | |||||||||||||
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.
Kenneth Eliot Flach was born on May 24, 1963, in St. Louis[4] and grew up in nearby Kirkwood, Missouri.[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 of 1986 and had four children together.[5]
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.
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]
In early March of 2018, Flach became ill with bronchitis after playing 36 holes of golf. According to his widow, Flach's doctors at Kaiser Permanente failed to act with urgency allowing the infection to turn life-threatening. Christina Flach claims that rather than have Ken come in for an appointment, an advice nurse spent time assessing his health in a telephone conversation.
She claims that when Ken Flach began vomiting blood, he sent a desperate email to his doctor at Kaiser Permanente before the pair rushed to the emergency room, where he was intubated. He was later transferred to University of California San Francisco Medical Center with his organs failing.
Ken Flach was removed from life support and died of sepsis several days later, on March 12.[10]
Christina Flach is now a volunteer with Sepsis Alliance working to educate others about the condition that killed her husband.
Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winner | 1985 | US Open | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6-7(5-7), 7-6(7-1), 7-6(8-6), 6-0 |
Winner | 1987 | Wimbledon | Grass | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3-6, 6-7(6-8), 7-6(7-3), 6-1, 6-4 |
Runner-up | 1987 | US Open | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6-7(1-7), 2-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-7(2-7) |
Winner | 1988 | Wimbledon (2) | Grass | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6-4, 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(7-3) |
Runner-up | 1989 | US Open | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
4-6, 6-4, 3-6, 3-6 |
Winner | 1993 | US Open (2) | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6-7(3-7), 6-4, 6-2 |
Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winner | 1986 | French Open | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3-6, 7-6(7-3), 6-3 |
Winner | 1986 | Wimbledon | Grass | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6-3, 7-6(9-7) |
Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gold | 1988 | Seoul Olympics | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6-3, 6-4, 6-7(5-7), 6-7(1-7), 9-7 |
|
|
Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents in the final | Score in the final |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Runner-up | 1. | December 12, 1983 | Taipei, Taiwan | Carpet | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6-7, 4-6 |
Winner | 1. | June 11, 1984 | Rome, Italy | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3-6, 6-3, 6-4 |
Runner-up | 2. | July 16, 1984 | Newport, United States | Grass | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
4-6, 6-7 |
Winner | 2. | July 23, 1984 | Boston, United States | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6-4, 6-4 |
Winner | 3. | August 13, 1984 | Indianapolis, United States | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7-6, 7-5 |
Winner | 4. | September 17, 1984 | Los Angeles, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
4-6, 6-4, 6-3 |
Winner | 5. | October 29, 1984 | Hong Kong | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6-7, 6-3, 7-5 |
Winner | 6. | November 6, 1984 | Taipei, Taiwan | Carpet | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6-1, 6-7, 6-2 |
Winner | 7. | January 6, 1985 | Masters Doubles WCT, London | Carpet | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-0 |
Runner-up | 3. | February 25, 1985 | La Quinta, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6-3, 6-7, 3-6 |
Winner | 8. | April 1, 1985 | Fort Myers, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3-6, 6-3, 6-3 |
Runner-up | 4. | April 8, 1985 | Chicago, United States | Carpet | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 1-6, 4-6 |
Winner | 9. | May 13, 1985 | Forest Hills, United States | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7-5, 6-2 |
Runner-up | 5. | May 20, 1985 | Rome, Italy | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6-4, 3-6, 2-6 |
Winner | 10. | June 17, 1985 | London/Queen's Club, England | Grass | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3-6, 6-3, 16-14 |
Winner | 11. | July 29, 1985 | Indianapolis, United States | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6-4, 6-4 |
Runner-up | 6. | August 12, 1985 | Stratton Mountain, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6-3, 6-7, 6-7 |
Winner | 12. | August 19, 1985 | Montreal, Canada | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
5-7, 7-6, 6-3 |
Winner | 13. | September 9, 1985 | U.S. Open, New York | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6-7, 7-6, 7-6, 6-0 |
Winner | 14. | October 28, 1985 | Tokyo Indoor, Japan | Carpet | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
4-6, 6-3, 7-6 |
Winner | 15. | February 10, 1986 | Memphis, United States | Carpet | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6-4, 4-6, 7-6 |
Winner | 16. | March 31, 1986 | Chicago, United States | Carpet | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6-0, 7-5 |
Winner | 17. | October 20, 1986 | Tokyo Outdoor, Japan | Carpet | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6-2, 6-3 |
Runner-up | 7. | March 9, 1987 | Miami, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
2-6, 4-6, 4-6 |
Runner-up | 8. | April 27, 1987 | Seoul, South Korea | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7-6, 1-6, 5-7 |
Winner | 18. | July 6, 1987 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3-6, 6-7, 7-6, 6-1, 6-4 |
Runner-up | 9. | July 20, 1987 | Livingston, New Jersey, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6-7, 3-6 |
Winner | 19. | August 24, 1987 | Cincinnati, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7-5, 6-3 |
Runner-up | 10. | September 14, 1987 | U.S. Open, New York | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6-7, 2-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-7 |
Runner-up | 11. | November 16, 1987 | Wembley, England | Carpet | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
5-7, 4-6 |
Runner-up | 12. | December 13, 1987 | Masters Doubles, London | Carpet | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
4-6, 5-7, 7-6, 3-6 |
Runner-up | 13. | March 28, 1988 | Miami, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6-7, 1-6, 5-7 |
Winner | 20. | June 13, 1988 | London/Queen's Club, England | Grass | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6-2, 7-6 |
Winner | 21. | July 4, 1988 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6-4, 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 |
Runner-up | 14. | August 2, 1988 | Indianapolis, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
4-6, 3-6 |
Winner | 22. | August 15, 1988 | Toronto, Canada | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7-6, 6-3 |
Winner | 23. | September 26, 1988 | Seoul, South Korea | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6-3, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7 |
Winner | 24. | November 14, 1988 | Wembley, England | Carpet | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7-5, 6-2 |
Runner-up | 15. | November 21, 1988 | Detroit, United States | Carpet | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
4-6, 1-6 |
Winner | 25. | April 24, 1989 | Tokyo Outdoor, Japan | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7-6, 7-6 |
Winner | 26. | August 21, 1989 | Cincinnati, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6-4, 6-4 |
Runner-up | 16. | September 11, 1989 | U.S. Open, New York | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
4-6, 6-4, 3-6, 3-6 |
Runner-up | 17. | October 9, 1989 | Orlando, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
5-7, 7-5, 4-6 |
Runner-up | 18. | March 25, 1991 | Miami, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7-5, 6-7, 2-6 |
Winner | 27. | May 6, 1991 | Tampa, United States | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6-7, 6-4, 6-1 |
Runner-up | 19. | July 22, 1991 | Washington, D.C., United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
4-6, 2-6 |
Winner | 28. | August 12, 1991 | Cincinnati, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6-7, 6-4, 7-5 |
Winner | 29. | August 19, 1991 | Indianapolis, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
7-6, 6-4 |
Runner-up | 20. | November 24, 1991 | Doubles Championships, Johannesburg | Hard (i) | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
4-6, 4-6, 6-2, 4-6 |
Winner | 30. | March 23, 1992 | Miami, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6-4, 6-3 |
Runner-up | 21. | July 20, 1992 | Washington, D.C., United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
2-6, 3-6 |
Winner | 31. | April 12, 1993 | Tokyo Outdoor, Japan | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
2-6, 6-3, 6-4 |
Winner | 32. | June 21, 1993 | Manchester, England | Grass | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6-4, 6-1 |
Runner-up | 22. | August 23, 1993 | Indianapolis, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
4-6, 4-6 |
Winner | 33. | September 13, 1993 | U.S. Open, New York | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6-7, 6-4, 6-2 |
Winner | 34. | February 28, 1994 | Scottsdale, United States | Hard | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
6-0, 6-4 |
Runner-up | 23. | May 16, 1994 | Coral Springs, United States | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
3-6, 5-7 |
Runner-up | 24. | May 13, 1996 | Pinehurst, United States | Clay | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
2-6, 3-6 |
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