Kenneth Eliot "Ken" Flach (born 24 May 1963 in St. Louis, Missouri) is a former professional tennis player from the United States. A doubles specialist, he won 4 Grand Slam men's doubles titles (2 Wimbledon and 2 US Open), and 2 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles (1 Wimbledon and 1 French Open). He also won the men's doubles Gold Medal at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, partnering Robert Seguso. Flach reached the World No. 1 doubles ranking in 1985.
Flach played doubles on the US Davis Cup team from 1985–1991, 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.
Prior to 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-up with Seguso to reach the 1983 Division I doubles final.
Since retiring from the professional tour, Flach has devoted himself to coaching. He guided Vanderbilt University to its first-ever NCAA tournament berth in 1999. He has also played in seniors events, and won the Wimbledon 35-and-over men's doubles title in 1999 and 2000.
Major finals
Grand Slam finals
Men's doubles: 6 (4 titles, 2 runner-ups)
| Outcome |
Year |
Championship |
Surface |
Partner |
Opponents in the final |
Score in the final |
| Winner |
1985 |
US Open |
Hard |
Robert Seguso |
Henri Leconte
Yannick Noah |
6–7, 7–6, 7–6, 6–0 |
| Winner |
1987 |
Wimbledon |
Grass |
Robert Seguso |
Sergio Casal
Emilio Sánchez Vicario |
3–6, 6–7(6), 7–6(3), 6–1, 6–4 |
| Runner-up |
1987 |
US Open |
Hard |
Robert Seguso |
Stefan Edberg
Anders Järryd |
7–6, 6–2, 4–6, 5–7, 7–6 |
| Winner |
1988 |
Wimbledon (2) |
Grass |
Robert Seguso |
John Fitzgerald
Anders Järryd |
6–4, 2–6, 6–4, 7–6(3) |
| Runner-up |
1989 |
US Open |
Hard |
Robert Seguso |
John McEnroe
Mark Woodforde |
6–4, 4–6, 6–3, 6–3 |
| Winner |
1993 |
US Open (2) |
Hard |
Rick Leach |
Martin Damm
Karel Nováček |
6–7, 6–4, 6–2 |
Mixed doubles: 2 (2 titles)
| Outcome |
Year |
Championship |
Surface |
Partner |
Opponents in the final |
Score in the final |
| Winner |
1986 |
French Open |
Clay |
Kathy Jordan |
Rosalyn Fairbank
Mark Edmondson |
3–6, 7–6, 6–3 |
| Winner |
1986 |
Wimbledon |
Grass |
Kathy Jordan |
Martina Navrátilová
Heinz Gunthardt |
6–3, 7–6 |
Olympic men's doubles final
| Outcome |
Year |
Championship |
Surface |
Partner |
Opponents in the final |
Score in the final |
| Gold |
1988 |
Seoul Olympics |
Hard |
Robert Seguso |
Sergio Casal
Emilio Sánchez Vicario |
6–3, 6–4, 6–7(5), 6–7(1), 9–7 |
Grand Slam, Grand Prix, WCT, and ATP Tour doubles finals (58)
Wins (34)
| Legend |
| Grand Slam (4) |
| Tennis Masters Cup (1) |
| Olympic Gold Medal (1) |
| ATP Masters Series (2) |
| ATP Championship Series (2) |
| ATP World Series (22) |
|
| Titles by Surface |
| Hard (16) |
| Clay (6) |
| Grass (5) |
| Carpet (7) |
|
| No. |
Date |
Tournament |
Surface |
Partnering |
Opponent in the final |
Score |
| 1. |
11 June 1984 |
Rome, Italy |
Clay |
Robert Seguso |
John Alexander
Mike Leach |
3–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
| 2. |
23 July 1984 |
Boston, United States |
Clay |
Robert Seguso |
Gary Donnelly
Ernie Fernandez |
6–4, 6–4 |
| 3. |
13 August 1984 |
Indianapolis, United States |
Clay |
Robert Seguso |
Heinz Günthardt
Balázs Taróczy |
7–6, 7–5 |
| 4. |
17 September 1984 |
Los Angeles, United States |
Hard |
Robert Seguso |
Wojtek Fibak
Sandy Mayer |
4–6, 6–4, 6–3 |
| 5. |
29 October 1984 |
Hong Kong |
Hard |
Robert Seguso |
Mark Edmondson
Paul McNamee |
6–7, 6–3, 7–5 |
| 6. |
6 November 1984 |
Taipei, Taiwan |
Carpet |
Robert Seguso |
Drew Gitlin
Hank Pfister |
6–1, 6–7, 6–2 |
| 7. |
6 January 1985 |
Masters Doubles WCT, London |
Carpet |
Robert Seguso |
Heinz Günthardt
Balázs Taróczy |
6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 6–0 |
| 8. |
1 April 1985 |
Fort Myers, United States |
Hard |
Robert Seguso |
Sammy Giammalva Jr.
David Pate |
3–6, 6–3, 6–3 |
| 9. |
13 May 1985 |
Forest Hills, United States |
Clay |
Robert Seguso |
Givaldo Barbosa
Ivan Kley |
7–5, 6–2 |
| 10. |
17 June 1985 |
London/Queen's Club, England |
Grass |
Robert Seguso |
Pat Cash
John Fitzgerald |
3–6, 6–3, 16–14 |
| 11. |
29 July 1985 |
Indianapolis, United States |
Clay |
Robert Seguso |
Pavel Složil
Kim Warwick |
6–4, 6–4 |
| 12. |
19 August 1985 |
Montreal, Canada |
Hard |
Robert Seguso |
Stefan Edberg
Anders Järryd |
5–7, 7–6, 6–3 |
| 13. |
9 September 1985 |
U.S. Open, New York |
Hard |
Robert Seguso |
Henri Leconte
Yannick Noah |
6–7, 7–6, 7–6, 6–0 |
| 14. |
28 October 1985 |
Tokyo Indoor, Japan |
Carpet |
Robert Seguso |
Scott Davis
David Pate |
4–6, 6–3, 7–6 |
| 15. |
10 February 1986 |
Memphis, United States |
Carpet |
Robert Seguso |
Guy Forget
Anders Järryd |
6–4, 4–6, 7–6 |
| 16. |
31 March 1986 |
Chicago, United States |
Carpet |
Robert Seguso |
Eddie Edwards
Francisco González |
6–0, 7–5 |
| 17. |
20 October 1986 |
Tokyo Outdoor, Japan |
Carpet |
Matt Anger |
Jimmy Arias
Greg Holmes |
6–2, 6–3 |
| 18. |
6 July 1987 |
Wimbledon, London |
Grass |
Robert Seguso |
Sergio Casal
Emilio Sánchez Vicario |
3–6, 6–7, 7–6, 6–1, 6–4 |
| 19. |
24 August 1987 |
Cincinnati, United States |
Hard |
Robert Seguso |
Steve Denton
John Fitzgerald |
7–5, 6–3 |
| 20. |
13 June 1988 |
London/Queen's Club, England |
Grass |
Robert Seguso |
Pieter Aldrich
Danie Visser |
6–2, 7–6 |
| 21. |
4 July 1988 |
Wimbledon, London |
Grass |
Robert Seguso |
John Fitzgerald
Anders Järryd |
6–4, 2–6, 6–4, 7–6 |
| 22. |
15 August 1988 |
Toronto, Canada |
Hard |
Robert Seguso |
Andrew Castle
Tim Wilkison |
7–6, 6–3 |
| 23. |
26 September 1988 |
Seoul, South Korea |
Hard |
Robert Seguso |
Sergio Casal
Emilio Sánchez Vicario |
6–3, 6–4, 6–7, 6–7, 9–7 |
| 24. |
14 November 1988 |
Wembley, England |
Carpet |
Robert Seguso |
Martin Davis
Brad Drewett |
7–5, 6–2 |
| 25. |
24 April 1989 |
Tokyo Outdoor, Japan |
Hard |
Robert Seguso |
Kevin Curren
David Pate |
7–6, 7–6 |
| 26. |
21 August 1989 |
Cincinnati, United States |
Hard |
Robert Seguso |
Pieter Aldrich
Danie Visser |
6–4, 6–4 |
| 27. |
6 May 1991 |
Tampa, United States |
Clay |
Robert Seguso |
David Pate
Richey Reneberg |
6–7, 6–4, 6–1 |
| 28. |
12 August 1991 |
Cincinnati, United States |
Hard |
Robert Seguso |
Grant Connell
Glenn Michibata |
6–7, 6–4, 7–5 |
| 29. |
19 August 1991 |
Indianapolis, United States |
Hard |
Robert Seguso |
Kent Kinnear
Sven Salumaa |
7–6, 6–4 |
| 30. |
23 March 1992 |
Miami, United States |
Hard |
Todd Witsken |
Kent Kinnear
Sven Salumaa |
6–4, 6–3 |
| 31. |
12 April 1993 |
Tokyo Outdoor, Japan |
Hard |
Rick Leach |
Glenn Michibata
David Pate |
2–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
| 32. |
21 June 1993 |
Manchester, England |
Grass |
Rick Leach |
Stefan Kruger
Glenn Michibata |
6–4, 6–1 |
| 33. |
13 September 1993 |
U.S. Open, New York |
Hard |
Rick Leach |
Martin Damm
Karel Nováček |
6–7, 6–4, 6–2 |
| 34. |
28 February 1994 |
Scottsdale, United States |
Hard |
Jan Apell |
Alex O'Brien
Sandon Stolle |
6–0, 6–4 |
Runner-ups (24)
| No. |
Date |
Tournament |
Surface |
Partnering |
Opponent in the final |
Score |
| 1. |
12 December 1983 |
Taipei, Taiwan |
Carpet |
Robert Seguso |
Wally Masur
Kim Warwick |
7–6, 6–4 |
| 2. |
16 July 1984 |
Newport, United States |
Grass |
Robert Seguso |
David Graham
Laurie Warder |
6–4, 7–6 |
| 3. |
25 February 1985 |
La Quinta, United States |
Hard |
Robert Seguso |
Heinz Günthardt
Balázs Taróczy |
3–6, 7–6, 6–3 |
| 4. |
8 April 1985 |
Chicago, United States |
Carpet |
Robert Seguso |
Johan Kriek
Yannick Noah |
3–6, 4–6, 7–5, 6–1, 6–4 |
| 5. |
20 May 1985 |
Rome, Italy |
Clay |
Robert Seguso |
Anders Järryd
Mats Wilander |
4–6, 6–3, 6–2 |
| 6. |
12 August 1985 |
Stratton Mountain, United States |
Hard |
Robert Seguso |
Scott Davis
David Pate |
3–6, 7–6, 7–6 |
| 7. |
9 March 1987 |
Miami, United States |
Hard |
Robert Seguso |
Paul Annacone
Christo van Rensburg |
6–2, 6–4, 6–4 |
| 8. |
27 April 1987 |
Seoul, South Korea |
Hard |
Jim Grabb |
Eric Korita
Mike Leach |
6–7, 6–1, 7–5 |
| 9. |
20 July 1987 |
Livingston, New Jersey, United States |
Hard |
Robert Seguso |
Gary Donnelly
Greg Holmes |
7–6, 6–3 |
| 10. |
14 September 1987 |
U.S. Open, New York |
Hard |
Robert Seguso |
Stefan Edberg
Anders Järryd |
7–6, 6–2, 4–6, 5–7, 7–6 |
| 11. |
16 November 1987 |
Wembley, England |
Carpet |
Robert Seguso |
Miloslav Mečíř
Tomáš Šmíd |
7–5, 6–4 |
| 12. |
13 December 1987 |
Masters Doubles, London |
Carpet |
Robert Seguso |
Miloslav Mečíř
Tomáš Šmíd |
6–4, 7–5, 6–7, 6–3 |
| 13. |
28 March 1988 |
Miami, United States |
Hard |
Robert Seguso |
John Fitzgerald
Anders Järryd |
7–6, 6–1, 7–5 |
| 14. |
2 August 1988 |
Indianapolis, United States |
Hard |
Robert Seguso |
Rick Leach
Jim Pugh |
6–4, 6–3 |
| 15. |
21 November 1988 |
Detroit, United States |
Carpet |
Robert Seguso |
Rick Leach
Jim Pugh |
6–4, 6–1 |
| 16. |
11 September 1989 |
U.S. Open, New York |
Hard |
Robert Seguso |
John McEnroe
Mark Woodforde |
6–4, 4–6, 6–3, 6–3 |
| 17. |
9 October 1989 |
Orlando, United States |
Hard |
Robert Seguso |
Scott Davis
Tim Pawsat |
7–5, 5–7, 6–4 |
| 18. |
25 March 1991 |
Miami, United States |
Hard |
Robert Seguso |
Wayne Ferreira
Piet Norval |
5–7, 7–6, 6–2 |
| 19. |
22 July 1991 |
Washington, D.C., United States |
Hard |
Robert Seguso |
Scott Davis
David Pate |
6–4, 6–2 |
| 20. |
24 November 1991 |
Doubles Championships, Johannesburg |
Hard (i) |
Robert Seguso |
John Fitzgerald
Anders Järryd |
6–4, 6–4, 2–6, 6–4 |
| 21. |
20 July 1992 |
Washington, D.C., United States |
Hard |
Todd Witsken |
Bret Garnett
Jared Palmer |
6–2, 6–3 |
| 22. |
23 August 1993 |
Indianapolis, United States |
Hard |
Rick Leach |
Scott Davis
Todd Martin |
6–4, 6–4 |
| 23. |
16 May 1994 |
Coral Springs, United States |
Clay |
Stephane Simian |
Lan Bale
Brett Steven |
6–3, 7–5 |
| 24. |
13 May 1996 |
Pinehurst, United States |
Clay |
David Wheaton |
Pat Cash
Patrick Rafter |
6–2, 6–3 |
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
| Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) World No. 1 doubles players |
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| ATP rankings incepted on August 23, 1973 · (year first held/year last held - number of weeks (w)) · current No. 1 in bold, as of July 25, 2011 |
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| Wimbledon (Open Era) gentlemen's doubles champions |
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| US Open men's doubles champions |
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| French Open mixed doubles champions |
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| Wimbledon (Open Era) mixed doubles champions |
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| Tennis at the Summer Olympics · Olympic Champions in men's doubles |
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| ATP Masters Series: Doubles winners |
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| Monte Carlo Masters winners |
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| Hamburg/Madrid Masters winners |
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| Cincinnati Masters winners |
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| Stockholm/Essen/Stuttgart/Madrid/Shanghai Masters winners |
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| Persondata |
| Name |
Flach, Ken |
| Alternative names |
|
| Short description |
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| Date of birth |
24 May 1963 |
| Place of birth |
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| Date of death |
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| Place of death |
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Categories: 1963 births | Living people | American male tennis players | American tennis coaches | French Open champions | Olympic gold medalists for the United States | Olympic tennis players of the United States | People from St. Louis, Missouri | SIU Edwardsville Cougars tennis players | Tennis people from Missouri | Tennis players at the 1988 Summer Olympics | United States Open champions (tennis) | Wimbledon champions | Olympic medalists in tennis
Hidden categories: Persondata templates without short description parameter