# Ken Flach

Kenneth Eliot Flach (May 24, 1963 – March 12, 2018) 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. Flach reached the world No. 1 doubles ranking in 1985.

## Early life

Kenneth Eliot Flach was born on May 24, 1963, in St. Louis and grew up in nearby Kirkwood, Missouri.
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.
Flach married his first wife, model Sandra Freeman, in September 1986 and had four children together, Dylan, Madison, Noah and Hannah.

## 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.
In 2010, after moving to California, he married makeup entrepreneur Christina Friedman, and became the director of tennis at Novato's Rolling Hills Club.

## 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
#### Doubles: 6 (4 titles, 2 runner-ups)

| 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 | Robert Seguso | Sergio Casal Emilio Sánchez | 3–6, 6–7$^{(6–8)}$, 7–6$^{(7–3)}$, 6–1, 6–4 |
| Loss | 1987 | US Open | Hard | Robert Seguso | Stefan Edberg Anders Järryd | 6–7$^{(1–7)}$, 2–6, 6–4, 7–5, 6–7$^{(2–7)}$ |
| Win | 1988 | Wimbledon (2) | Grass | Robert Seguso | John Fitzgerald Anders Järryd | 6–4, 2–6, 6–4, 7–6$^{(7–3)}$ |
| Loss | 1989 | US Open | Hard | Robert Seguso | 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 |

#### Mixed doubles: 2 (2 titles)

| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
| Win | 1986 | French Open | Clay | Kathy Jordan | Rosalyn Fairbank Mark Edmondson | 3–6, 7–6$^{(7–3)}$, 6–3 |
| Win | 1986 | Wimbledon | Grass | Kathy Jordan | Martina Navratilova Heinz Günthardt | 6–3, 7–6$^{(9–7)}$ |

### Olympic men's doubles final

| Result | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
| Gold | 1988 | Seoul Olympics | Hard | Robert Seguso | Sergio Casal Emilio Sánchez | 6–3, 6–4, 6–7$^{(5–7)}$, 6–7$^{(1–7)}$, 9–7 |

## Career finals
### Doubles (34 wins, 24 losses)

* 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 | Robert Seguso | John Alexander Mike Leach | 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
| Loss | 2. | Jul 1984 | Newport, US | Grass | Robert Seguso | David Graham Laurie Warder | 4–6, 6–7 |
| Win | 2. | Jul 1984 | Boston, US | Clay | Robert Seguso | Gary Donnelly Ernie Fernandez | 6–4, 6–4 |
| Win | 3. | Aug 1984 | Indianapolis, US | Clay | Robert Seguso | Heinz Günthardt Balázs Taróczy | 7–6, 7–5 |
| Win | 4. | Sep 1984 | Los Angeles, US | Hard | Robert Seguso | Wojtek Fibak Sandy Mayer | 4–6, 6–4, 6–3 |
| Win | 5. | Oct 1984 | Hong Kong | Hard | Robert Seguso | Mark Edmondson Paul McNamee | 6–7, 6–3, 7–5 |
| Win | 6. | Nov 1984 | Taipei, Taiwan | Carpet | Robert Seguso | Drew Gitlin Hank Pfister | 6–1, 6–7, 6–2 |
| Win | 7. | Jan 1985 | Masters Doubles WCT, London | Carpet (i) | Robert Seguso | Heinz Günthardt Balázs Taróczy | 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 6–0 |
| Loss | 3. | Feb 1985 | La Quinta, US | Hard | Robert Seguso | Heinz Günthardt Balázs Taróczy | 6–3, 6–7, 3–6 |
| Win | 8. | Apr 1985 | Fort Myers, US | Hard | Robert Seguso | Sammy Giammalva Jr. David Pate | 3–6, 6–3, 6–3 |
| Loss | 4. | Apr 1985 | Chicago, US | Carpet (i) | Robert Seguso | Johan Kriek Yannick Noah | 6–3, 6–4, 5–7, 1–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 9. | May 1985 | Forest Hills, US | Clay | Robert Seguso | Givaldo Barbosa Ivan Kley | 7–5, 6–2 |
| Loss | 5. | May 1985 | Rome, Italy | Clay | Robert Seguso | Anders Järryd Mats Wilander | 6–4, 3–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 10. | Jun 1985 | Queen's Club, UK | Grass | Robert Seguso | Pat Cash John Fitzgerald | 3–6, 6–3, 16–14 |
| Win | 11. | Jul 1985 | Indianapolis, US | Clay | Robert Seguso | Pavel Složil Kim Warwick | 6–4, 6–4 |
| Loss | 6. | Aug 1985 | Stratton Mountain, US | Hard | Robert Seguso | Scott Davis David Pate | 6–3, 6–7, 6–7 |
| Win | 12. | Aug 1985 | Montreal, Canada | Hard | Robert Seguso | Stefan Edberg Anders Järryd | 5–7, 7–6, 6–3 |
| Win | 13. | Sep 1985 | US Open, New York | Hard | Robert Seguso | Henri Leconte Yannick Noah | 6–7, 7–6, 7–6, 6–0 |
| Win | 14. | Oct 1985 | Tokyo Indoor, Japan | Carpet (i) | Robert Seguso | Scott Davis David Pate | 4–6, 6–3, 7–6 |
| Win | 15. | Feb 1986 | Memphis, US | Carpet (i) | Robert Seguso | Guy Forget Anders Järryd | 6–4, 4–6, 7–6 |
| Win | 16. | Mar 1986 | Chicago, US | Carpet (i) | Robert Seguso | 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 | Robert Seguso | 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 | Robert Seguso | Sergio Casal Emilio Sánchez | 3–6, 6–7, 7–6, 6–1, 6–4 |
| Loss | 9. | Jul 1987 | Livingston, US | Hard | Robert Seguso | Gary Donnelly Greg Holmes | 6–7, 3–6 |
| Win | 19. | Aug 1987 | Cincinnati, US | Hard | Robert Seguso | Steve Denton John Fitzgerald | 7–5, 6–3 |
| Loss | 10. | Sep 1987 | US Open, New York | Hard | Robert Seguso | Stefan Edberg Anders Järryd | 6–7, 2–6, 6–4, 7–5, 6–7 |
| Loss | 11. | Nov 1987 | Wembley, UK | Carpet (i) | Robert Seguso | Miloslav Mečíř Tomáš Šmíd | 5–7, 4–6 |
| Loss | 12. | Dec 1987 | Masters Doubles, London | Carpet (i) | Robert Seguso | Miloslav Mečíř Tomáš Šmíd | 4–6, 5–7, 7–6, 3–6 |
| Loss | 13. | Mar 1988 | Miami, US | Hard | Robert Seguso | John Fitzgerald Anders Järryd | 6–7, 1–6, 5–7 |
| Win | 20. | Jun 1988 | Queen's Club, UK | Grass | Robert Seguso | Pieter Aldrich Danie Visser | 6–2, 7–6 |
| Win | 21. | Jul 1988 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | Robert Seguso | John Fitzgerald Anders Järryd | 6–4, 2–6, 6–4, 7–6 |
| Loss | 14. | Aug 1988 | Indianapolis, US | Hard | Robert Seguso | Rick Leach Jim Pugh | 4–6, 3–6 |
| Win | 22. | Aug 1988 | Toronto, Canada | Hard | Robert Seguso | Andrew Castle Tim Wilkison | 7–6, 6–3 |
| Win | 23. | Sep 1988 | Seoul, South Korea | Hard | Robert Seguso | Sergio Casal Emilio Sánchez | 6–3, 6–4, 6–7, 6–7, 9–7 |
| Win | 24. | Nov 1988 | Wembley, UK | Carpet (i) | Robert Seguso | Martin Davis Brad Drewett | 7–5, 6–2 |
| Loss | 15. | Nov 1988 | Detroit, US | Carpet (i) | Robert Seguso | Rick Leach Jim Pugh | 4–6, 1–6 |
| Win | 25. | Apr 1989 | Tokyo Outdoor, Japan | Hard | Robert Seguso | Kevin Curren David Pate | 7–6, 7–6 |
| Win | 26. | Aug 1989 | Cincinnati, US | Hard | Robert Seguso | Pieter Aldrich Danie Visser | 6–4, 6–4 |
| Loss | 16. | Sep 1989 | US Open, New York | Hard | Robert Seguso | John McEnroe Mark Woodforde | 4–6, 6–4, 3–6, 3–6 |
| Loss | 17. | Oct 1989 | Orlando, US | Hard | Robert Seguso | Scott Davis Tim Pawsat | 5–7, 7–5, 4–6 |
| Loss | 18. | Mar 1991 | Miami, US | Hard | Robert Seguso | Wayne Ferreira Piet Norval | 7–5, 6–7, 2–6 |
| Win | 27. | May 1991 | Tampa, US | Clay | Robert Seguso | David Pate Richey Reneberg | 6–7, 6–4, 6–1 |
| Loss | 19. | Jul 1991 | Washington, D.C., US | Hard | Robert Seguso | Scott Davis David Pate | 4–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 28. | Aug 1991 | Cincinnati, US | Hard | Robert Seguso | Grant Connell Glenn Michibata | 6–7, 6–4, 7–5 |
| Win | 29. | Aug 1991 | Indianapolis, US | Hard | Robert Seguso | Kent Kinnear Sven Salumaa | 7–6, 6–4 |
| Loss | 20. | Nov 1991 | Doubles Championships, Johannesburg | Hard (i) | Robert Seguso | John Fitzgerald Anders Järryd | 4–6, 4–6, 6–2, 4–6 |
| Win | 30. | Mar 1992 | Miami, US | Hard | Todd Witsken | Kent Kinnear Sven Salumaa | 6–4, 6–3 |
| Loss | 21. | Jul 1992 | Washington, D.C., US | Hard | Todd Witsken | Bret Garnett Jared Palmer | 2–6, 3–6 |
| Win | 31. | Apr 1993 | Tokyo Outdoor, Japan | Hard | Rick Leach | Glenn Michibata David Pate | 2–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
| Win | 32. | Jun 1993 | Manchester, UK | Grass | Rick Leach | Stefan Kruger Glenn Michibata | 6–4, 6–1 |
| Loss | 22. | Aug 1993 | Indianapolis, US | Hard | Rick Leach | Scott Davis Todd Martin | 4–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 33. | Sep 1993 | US Open, New York | Hard | Rick Leach | 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 |

## Doubles performance timeline

Key :
| W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | DNQ | A | NH |
| 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 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | 2R | 2R | 2R | QF | 2R | A | 1R | 0 / 6 | 4–6 |
| Miami | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | 2R | F | W | 2R | 3R | A | 2R | 1 / 6 | 12–5 |
| Monte Carlo | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 |
| Rome | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 |
| Hamburg | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 |
| Canada | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | 1R | SF | 2R | A | A | A | 1R | 0 / 4 | 3–4 |
| Cincinnati | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | 2R | W | QF | 2R | 2R | A | A | 1 / 5 | 10–4 |
| Stuttgart (Stockholm) | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | A | 2R | A | 2R | A | A | A | 0 / 2 | 0–2 |
| Paris | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | These Tournaments Were Not Masters Series Events Before 1990 | A | SF | 2R | 2R | A | A | A | 0 / 3 | 3–3 |
| Masters Series SR | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 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 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 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 | N/A |