Ken Flach

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Ken Flach
Country (sports) United States
ResidenceNovato, California
Born(1963-05-24)May 24, 1963
St. Louis, Missouri
DiedMarch 12, 2018(2018-03-12) (aged 54)
San Francisco, California
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Turned pro1983
Retired1996 (brief periods of activity after retiring, incl. winning two Senior Wimbledon titles with Robert Seguso)
PlaysRight-handed (two-handed backhand)
Prize money$2,059,571
Singles
Career record52-80
Career titles0
Highest rankingNo. 56 (December 9, 1985)
Grand Slam Singles results
Australian Open3R (1983, 1987)
French Open1R (1986, 1988)
Wimbledon3R (1986, 1987, 1988, 1989)
US Open4R (1987)
Doubles
Career record443-215
Career titles34
Highest rankingNo. 1 (October 14, 1985)
Grand Slam Doubles results
Australian OpenSF (1987)
French OpenQF (1985, 1986, 1988)
WimbledonW (1987, 1988)
US OpenW (1985, 1993)
Other doubles tournaments
Tour FinalsF (1987, 1991)
hide
Medal record
Men's tennis
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1988 Seoul Men's doubles

Kenneth Eliot Flach (May 24, 1963 – March 12, 2018)[1][2] was an American 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] Flach reached the world No. 1 doubles ranking in 1985.

Early life[]

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 1986 and had four children together.[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.

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 after playing 36 holes of golf. According to his widow, his 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.

Major finals[]

Grand Slam finals[]

Men's doubles: 6 (4 titles, 2 runner-ups)[]

Outcome Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Winner 1985 US Open Hard United States Robert Seguso France Henri Leconte
France Yannick Noah
6–7(5–7), 7–6(7–1), 7–6(8–6), 6–0
Winner 1987 Wimbledon Grass United States Robert Seguso Spain Sergio Casal
Spain Emilio Sánchez
3–6, 6–7(6–8), 7–6(7–3), 6–1, 6–4
Runner-up 1987 US Open Hard United States Robert Seguso Sweden Stefan Edberg
Sweden Anders Järryd
6–7(1–7), 2–6, 6–4, 7–5, 6–7(2–7)
Winner 1988 Wimbledon (2) Grass United States Robert Seguso Australia John Fitzgerald
Sweden Anders Järryd
6–4, 2–6, 6–4, 7–6(7–3)
Runner-up 1989 US Open Hard United States Robert Seguso United States John McEnroe
Australia Mark Woodforde
4–6, 6–4, 3–6, 3–6
Winner 1993 US Open (2) Hard United States Rick Leach Czech Republic Martin Damm
Czech Republic Karel Nováček
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 United States Kathy Jordan South Africa Rosalyn Fairbank
Australia Mark Edmondson
3–6, 7–6(7–3), 6–3
Winner 1986 Wimbledon Grass United States Kathy Jordan United States Martina Navratilova
Switzerland Heinz Günthardt
6–3, 7–6(9–7)

Olympic men's doubles final[]

Outcome Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score
Gold 1988 Seoul Olympics Hard United States Robert Seguso Spain Sergio Casal
Spain Emilio Sánchez
6–3, 6–4, 6–7(5–7), 6–7(1–7), 9–7

Doubles finals (58)[]

Wins (34)[]

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)
Outcome No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Runner-up 1. December 12, 1983 Taipei, Taiwan Carpet United States Robert Seguso Australia Wally Masur
Australia Kim Warwick
6–7, 4–6
Winner 1. June 11, 1984 Rome, Italy Clay United States Robert Seguso Australia John Alexander
United States Mike Leach
3–6, 6–3, 6–4
Runner-up 2. July 16, 1984 Newport, United States Grass United States Robert Seguso Australia David Graham
Australia Laurie Warder
4–6, 6–7
Winner 2. July 23, 1984 Boston, United States Clay United States Robert Seguso United States Gary Donnelly
Puerto Rico Ernie Fernandez
6–4, 6–4
Winner 3. August 13, 1984 Indianapolis, United States Clay United States Robert Seguso Switzerland Heinz Günthardt
Hungary Balázs Taróczy
7–6, 7–5
Winner 4. September 17, 1984 Los Angeles, United States Hard United States Robert Seguso Poland Wojtek Fibak
United States Sandy Mayer
4–6, 6–4, 6–3
Winner 5. October 29, 1984 Hong Kong Hard United States Robert Seguso Australia Mark Edmondson
Australia Paul McNamee
6–7, 6–3, 7–5
Winner 6. November 6, 1984 Taipei, Taiwan Carpet United States Robert Seguso United States Drew Gitlin
United States Hank Pfister
6–1, 6–7, 6–2
Winner 7. January 6, 1985 Masters Doubles WCT, London Carpet (i) United States Robert Seguso Switzerland Heinz Günthardt
Hungary Balázs Taróczy
6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 6–0
Runner-up 3. February 25, 1985 La Quinta, United States Hard United States Robert Seguso Switzerland Heinz Günthardt
Hungary Balázs Taróczy
6–3, 6–7, 3–6
Winner 8. April 1, 1985 Fort Myers, United States Hard United States Robert Seguso United States Sammy Giammalva Jr.
United States David Pate
3–6, 6–3, 6–3
Runner-up 4. April 8, 1985 Chicago, United States Carpet (i) United States Robert Seguso United States Johan Kriek
France Yannick Noah
6–3, 6–4, 5–7, 1–6, 4–6
Winner 9. May 13, 1985 Forest Hills, United States Clay United States Robert Seguso Brazil Givaldo Barbosa
Brazil Ivan Kley
7–5, 6–2
Runner-up 5. May 20, 1985 Rome, Italy Clay United States Robert Seguso Sweden Anders Järryd
Sweden Mats Wilander
6–4, 3–6, 2–6
Winner 10. June 17, 1985 Queen's Club, England Grass United States Robert Seguso Australia Pat Cash
Australia John Fitzgerald
3–6, 6–3, 16–14
Winner 11. July 29, 1985 Indianapolis, United States Clay United States Robert Seguso Czechoslovakia Pavel Složil
Australia Kim Warwick
6–4, 6–4
Runner-up 6. August 12, 1985 Stratton Mountain, United States Hard United States Robert Seguso United States Scott Davis
United States David Pate
6–3, 6–7, 6–7
Winner 12. August 19, 1985 Montreal, Canada Hard United States Robert Seguso Sweden Stefan Edberg
Sweden Anders Järryd
5–7, 7–6, 6–3
Winner 13. September 9, 1985 US Open, New York Hard United States Robert Seguso France Henri Leconte
France Yannick Noah
6–7, 7–6, 7–6, 6–0
Winner 14. October 28, 1985 Tokyo Indoor, Japan Carpet (i) United States Robert Seguso United States Scott Davis
United States David Pate
4–6, 6–3, 7–6
Winner 15. February 10, 1986 Memphis, United States Carpet (i) United States Robert Seguso France Guy Forget
Sweden Anders Järryd
6–4, 4–6, 7–6
Winner 16. March 31, 1986 Chicago, United States Carpet (i) United States Robert Seguso South Africa Eddie Edwards
Paraguay Francisco González
6–0, 7–5
Winner 17. October 20, 1986 Tokyo Outdoor, Japan Carpet United States Matt Anger United States Jimmy Arias
United States Greg Holmes
6–2, 6–3
Runner-up 7. March 9, 1987 Miami, United States Hard United States Robert Seguso United States Paul Annacone
South Africa Christo van Rensburg
2–6, 4–6, 4–6
Runner-up 8. April 27, 1987 Seoul, South Korea Hard United States Jim Grabb United States Eric Korita
United States Mike Leach
7–6, 1–6, 5–7
Winner 18. July 6, 1987 Wimbledon, London Grass United States Robert Seguso Spain Sergio Casal
Spain Emilio Sánchez
3–6, 6–7, 7–6, 6–1, 6–4
Runner-up 9. July 20, 1987 Livingston, United States Hard United States Robert Seguso United States Gary Donnelly
United States Greg Holmes
6–7, 3–6
Winner 19. August 24, 1987 Cincinnati, United States Hard United States Robert Seguso United States Steve Denton
Australia John Fitzgerald
7–5, 6–3
Runner-up 10. September 14, 1987 US Open, New York Hard United States Robert Seguso Sweden Stefan Edberg
Sweden Anders Järryd
6–7, 2–6, 6–4, 7–5, 6–7
Runner-up 11. November 16, 1987 Wembley, England Carpet (i) United States Robert Seguso Czechoslovakia Miloslav Mečíř
Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd
5–7, 4–6
Runner-up 12. December 13, 1987 Masters Doubles, London Carpet (i) United States Robert Seguso Czechoslovakia Miloslav Mečíř
Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd
4–6, 5–7, 7–6, 3–6
Runner-up 13. March 28, 1988 Miami, United States Hard United States Robert Seguso Australia John Fitzgerald
Sweden Anders Järryd
6–7, 1–6, 5–7
Winner 20. June 13, 1988 Queen's Club, England Grass United States Robert Seguso South Africa Pieter Aldrich
South Africa Danie Visser
6–2, 7–6
Winner 21. July 4, 1988 Wimbledon, London Grass United States Robert Seguso Australia John Fitzgerald
Sweden Anders Järryd
6–4, 2–6, 6–4, 7–6
Runner-up 14. August 2, 1988 Indianapolis, United States Hard United States Robert Seguso United States Rick Leach
United States Jim Pugh
4–6, 3–6
Winner 22. August 15, 1988 Toronto, Canada Hard United States Robert Seguso United Kingdom Andrew Castle
United States Tim Wilkison
7–6, 6–3
Winner 23. September 26, 1988 Seoul, South Korea Hard United States Robert Seguso Spain Sergio Casal
Spain Emilio Sánchez
6–3, 6–4, 6–7, 6–7, 9–7
Winner 24. November 14, 1988 Wembley, England Carpet (i) United States Robert Seguso United States Martin Davis
Australia Brad Drewett
7–5, 6–2
Runner-up 15. November 21, 1988 Detroit, United States Carpet (i) United States Robert Seguso United States Rick Leach
United States Jim Pugh
4–6, 1–6
Winner 25. April 24, 1989 Tokyo Outdoor, Japan Hard United States Robert Seguso United States Kevin Curren
United States David Pate
7–6, 7–6
Winner 26. August 21, 1989 Cincinnati, United States Hard United States Robert Seguso South Africa Pieter Aldrich
South Africa Danie Visser
6–4, 6–4
Runner-up 16. September 11, 1989 US Open, New York Hard United States Robert Seguso United States John McEnroe
Australia Mark Woodforde
4–6, 6–4, 3–6, 3–6
Runner-up 17. October 9, 1989 Orlando, United States Hard United States Robert Seguso United States Scott Davis
United States Tim Pawsat
5–7, 7–5, 4–6
Runner-up 18. March 25, 1991 Miami, United States Hard United States Robert Seguso South Africa Wayne Ferreira
South Africa Piet Norval
7–5, 6–7, 2–6
Winner 27. May 6, 1991 Tampa, United States Clay United States Robert Seguso United States David Pate
United States Richey Reneberg
6–7, 6–4, 6–1
Runner-up 19. July 22, 1991 Washington, D.C., United States Hard United States Robert Seguso United States Scott Davis
United States David Pate
4–6, 2–6
Winner 28. August 12, 1991 Cincinnati, United States Hard United States Robert Seguso Canada Grant Connell
Canada Glenn Michibata
6–7, 6–4, 7–5
Winner 29. August 19, 1991 Indianapolis, United States Hard United States Robert Seguso United States Kent Kinnear
United States Sven Salumaa
7–6, 6–4
Runner-up 20. November 24, 1991 Doubles Championships, Johannesburg Hard (i) United States Robert Seguso Australia John Fitzgerald
Sweden Anders Järryd
4–6, 4–6, 6–2, 4–6
Winner 30. March 23, 1992 Miami, United States Hard United States Todd Witsken United States Kent Kinnear
United States Sven Salumaa
6–4, 6–3
Runner-up 21. July 20, 1992 Washington, D.C., United States Hard United States Todd Witsken United States Bret Garnett
United States Jared Palmer
2–6, 3–6
Winner 31. April 12, 1993 Tokyo Outdoor, Japan Hard United States Rick Leach Canada Glenn Michibata
United States David Pate
2–6, 6–3, 6–4
Winner 32. June 21, 1993 Manchester, England Grass United States Rick Leach South Africa Stefan Kruger
Canada Glenn Michibata
6–4, 6–1
Runner-up 22. August 23, 1993 Indianapolis, United States Hard United States Rick Leach United States Scott Davis
United States Todd Martin
4–6, 4–6
Winner 33. September 13, 1993 US Open, New York Hard United States Rick Leach Czech Republic Martin Damm
Czech Republic Karel Nováček
6–7, 6–4, 6–2
Winner 34. February 28, 1994 Scottsdale, United States Hard Sweden Jan Apell United States Alex O'Brien
Australia Sandon Stolle
6–0, 6–4
Runner-up 23. May 16, 1994 Coral Springs, United States Clay France Stephane Simian South Africa Lan Bale
New Zealand Brett Steven
3–6, 5–7
Runner-up 24. May 13, 1996 Pinehurst, United States Clay United States David Wheaton Australia Pat Cash
Australia Pat Rafter
2–6, 3–6

Doubles performance timeline[]

Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# DNQ A NH
(W) Won; (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)
Tournament 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 Career SR Career Win-Loss
Grand Slam tournaments
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

References[]

  1. ^ 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".
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ "Olympic results". Archived from the original on April 18, 2020.
  4. ^ Jump up to: 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.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Mason, Joe (March 17, 2018). "Remembering Ken Flach: Tennis great, St. Louis native, rock star". www.stlmag.com. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  6. ^ "Ken Flach, owner of six Grand Slam doubles titles, dies at 54". USA TODAY. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  7. ^ "Ken Flach of Mill Valley - Marin Magazine - June 2011 - Marin County, California". www.marinmagazine.com. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  8. ^ "Tennis: Former Olympic doubles champion Flach dies, aged 54". Reuters. March 13, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  9. ^ Resch, Colin. "After Ex-Tennis Star Dies, Wife Aims to Raise Awareness". NBC Bay Area. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  10. ^ Hein, Alexandria (September 25, 2018). "Wimbledon champ Ken Flach's widow speaks out on tennis great's sepsis death". Fox News. Retrieved February 26, 2019.

External links[]

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