Claudia Kohde-Kilsch

Claudia Kohde-Kilsch ( Kohde; born 11 December 1963) is a former German tennis player and member of the Die Linke. During her tennis career, she won two women's doubles Grand Slam titles. She also won eight singles titles and a total of 25 doubles titles.

Personal life Kohde-Kilsch was born Claudia Kohde in Saarbrücken, but added the hyphenated "-Kilsch" to her name which came from her adoptive father Jürgen Kilsch, an attorney. She has a younger sister, Katrin. She began playing tennis aged 5, and was soon a rising junior player.

Kohde-Kilsch campaigned for Oskar Lafontaine of Die Linke at the 2012 Saarland state election. With the party winning over 16% of the vote, it was announced that as of 1 May 2012 she would become the new spokesperson for the Landtag parliamentary group.

She currently lives in Saarland with her partner and her son Fynn from her previous marriage with the singer Chris Bennett, from whom she divorced in 2011. Bennett died in 2018. The couple operated CeKay Music, a music publishing house and production company.

Pro tennis career Kohde-Kilsch turned professional on 1 January 1980, and by 1981, she had defeated Martina Navratilova in Oakland. In 1982, she captured the title at Pittsburgh, and in 1984, she triumphed at the German Open, defeating Kathleen Horvath of the United States 7–6, 6–1.

In 1985, she reached the Australian Open and French Open semifinals as well as won in Los Angeles. Later that year, she defeated Navrátilová in the quarterfinals at the Canadian Open, eventually losing to Chris Evert, 2–6, 4–6 in the final. In 1987, she again reached the finals of the German Open, where she lost to Steffi Graf 2–6, 3–6.

In women's doubles, Kohde-Kilsch and Helena Suková won the 1985 US Open and the 1987 Wimbledon Championships.

Between 1984 and 1987, Kohde-Kilsch and Suková, sometimes referred to as the "twin towers" for their height, won 14 doubles tournaments. At the 1988 Summer Olympics, she partnered with Steffi Graf in the doubles competition, and they won the bronze medal in the event.

Grand Slam finals Doubles: 8 (2 titles, 6 runner-ups)

Olympic Games Doubles: 1 (bronze) Graf and Kohde-Kilsch lost in the semifinals to Jana Novotná and Helena Suková 5–7, 3–6. In 1988, there was no bronze medal play-off match, both beaten semifinal pairs received bronze medals.

Other significant finals Year-end championships Doubles: 5 (runner-ups)

WTA Tour finals Singles: 16 (8–8) Winner – LegendGrand Slam tournaments (0–0)Tier I (0–0)Tier II (0–0)Tier III (0–0)Tier IV (1–0)Tier V (1–0)Virginia Slims, Avon, other (6–8)Finals by surfaceHard (1–1)Grass (1–0)Clay (3–4)Carpet (3–3) ResultNo.DateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScoreWin 1. Jan 1981 Toronto, Canada Carpet (i) Nina Bohm 4–6, 6–2, 7–5Win 2. Jul 1981 Kitzbühel, Austria Clay Sylvia Hanika 7–5, 7–6Win 3. Jan 1982 Pittsburgh, US Hard Eva Pfaff 6–4, 6–0Win 4. Mar 1982 Austin, US Carpet (i) Helena Suková 7–6(7–0), 0–6, 6–3Loss 1. Apr 1984 Hilton Head, US Clay Chris Evert-Lloyd 2–6, 3–6Win 5. May 1984 Berlin, West Germany Clay Kathleen Horvath 7–6(10–8), 6–1Loss 2. Oct 1984 Zürich, Switzerland Carpet (i) Zina Garrison 1–6, 6–0, 2–6Loss 3. Dec 1984 Tokyo, Japan Carpet (i) Manuela Maleeva 6–3, 4–6, 4–6Win 6. Jul 1985 Los Angeles, US Hard Pam Shriver 6–2, 6–4Loss 4. Aug 1985 Toronto, Canada Hard Chris Evert-Lloyd 2–6, 4–6Loss 5. Jan 1986 Worcester, UK Carpet (i) Martina Navratilova 6–4, 1–6, 4–6Loss 6. Mar 1986 Marco Island, US Clay Chris Evert-Lloyd 4–6, 2–6Loss 7. Apr 1986 Amelia Island, US Clay Steffi Graf 4–6, 7–5, 6–7(3–7)Loss 8. May 1987 Berlin, West Germany Clay Steffi Graf 2–6, 3–6Win 7. Jun 1988 Birmingham, UK Grass Pam Shriver 6–1, 6–2Win 8. Sep 1990 Kitzbühel, Austria Clay Rachel McQuillan 7–6(7–5), 6–4

Doubles: 64 (25–39) Winner – LegendGrand Slam tournaments (2–6)WTA Tour Championships (0–5)Tier I (1–2)Tier II (1–3)Tier III (0–1)Tier IV (0–3)Tier V (2–1)Virginia Slims, Avon, other (19–18)Finals by surfaceHard (5–8)Grass (2–9)Clay (10–8)Carpet (8–14) ResultNo.DateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreWin 1. Jul 1980 Kitzbühel Clay Eva Pfaff Hana Mandlíková Renáta Tomanová w/oWin 2. Jul 1981 Kitzbühel Hard Eva Pfaff Elizabeth Little Yvonne Vermaak 6–4, 6–3Loss 1. May 1982 Berlin Clay Bettina Bunge Liz Gordon Beverly Mould 3–6, 4–6Loss 2. Nov 1982 Brisbane Grass Eva Pfaff Billie Jean King Anne Smith 3–6, 4–6Loss 3. Nov 1982 Sydney Grass Eva Pfaff Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 3–6, 6–2, 6–7Loss 4. Nov 1982 Australian Open Grass Eva Pfaff Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 4–6, 2–6Win 3. Feb 1983 Oakland Carpet (i) Eva Pfaff Rosie Casals Wendy Turnbull 6–4, 4–6, 6–4Loss 5. Mar 1983 Virginia Slims Championships Carpet (i) Eva Pfaff Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 5–7, 2–6Loss 6. May 1983 Berlin Clay Eva Pfaff Jo Durie Anne Hobbs 4–6, 6–7(2–7)Win 4. Jul 1983 Hittfeld Clay Bettina Bunge Ivanna Madruga Catherine Tanvier 7–5, 6–4Win 5. Apr 1984 Hilton Head Clay Hana Mandlíková Anne Hobbs Sharon Walsh 7–5, 6–2Win 6. Apr 1984 Orlando Clay Hana Mandlíková Anne Hobbs Wendy Turnbull 6–0, 1–6, 6–3Loss 7. May 1984 French Open Clay Hana Mandlíková Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 7–5, 3–6, 2–6Loss 8. Aug 1984 Montreal Hard Hana Mandlíková Kathy Jordan Elizabeth Sayers 1–6, 2–6Win 7. Oct 1984 Filderstadt Carpet (i) Helena Suková Bettina Bunge Eva Pfaff 6–2, 4–6, 6–3Loss 9. Oct 1984 Zürich Carpet (i) Hana Mandlíková Andrea Leand Andrea Temesvári 1–6, 3–6Win 8. Nov 1984 Sydney Grass Helena Suková Wendy Turnbull Sharon Walsh 6–2, 7–6(7–4)Loss 10. Nov 1984 Australian Open Grass Helena Suková Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 3–6, 4–6Win 9. Dec 1984 Tokyo Carpet (i) Helena Suková Elizabeth Smylie Catherine Tanvier 6–4, 6–4Loss 11. Jan 1985 Washington Carpet (i) Helena Suková Gigi Fernández Martina Navratilova 3–6, 6–3, 3–6Loss 12. Mar 1985 Virginia Slims Championships Carpet (i) Helena Suková Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 7–6(7–4), 4–6, 6–7(5–7)Win 10. May 1985 Berlin Clay Helena Suková Steffi Graf Catherine Tanvier 6–4, 6–1Loss 13. May 1985 French Open Clay Helena Suková Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 6–4, 2–6, 2–6Win 11. Jul 1985 Los Angeles Hard Helena Suková Hana Mandlíková Wendy Turnbull 6–4, 6–2Loss 14. Aug 1985 Mahwah Hard Helena Suková Kathy Jordan Elizabeth Smylie 6–7(6–8), 3–6Win 12. Aug 1985 US Open Hard Helena Suková Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 6–7(5–7), 6–2, 6–3Loss 15. Oct 1985 Zürich Carpet (i) Helena Suková Hana Mandlíková Andrea Temesvári 4–6, 6–3, 5–7Loss 16. Nov 1985 Brisbane Grass Helena Suková Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 4–6, 7–6(8–6), 1–6Loss 17. Nov 1985 Australian Open Grass Helena Suková Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 3–6, 4–6Win 13. Dec 1985 Tokyo Carpet (i) Helena Suková Marcella Mesker Elizabeth Smylie 6–0, 6–4Loss 18. Jan 1986 Washington Carpet (i) Helena Suková Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 3–6, 4–6Loss 19. Jan 1986 Worcester Carpet (i) Helena Suková Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 3–6, 1–6Win 14. Mar 1986 Dallas Carpet (i) Helena Suková Hana Mandlíková Wendy Turnbull 4–6, 7–5, 6–4Loss 20. Mar 1986 Virginia Slims Championship Carpet (i) Helena Suková Hana Mandlíková Wendy Turnbull 4–6, 7–6(7–4), 3–6Win 15. Apr 1986 Amelia Island Clay Helena Suková Gabriela Sabatini Catherine Tanvier 6–2, 5–7, 7–6(9–7)Loss 21. Jun 1986 Eastbourne Grass Helena Suková Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 2–6, 4–6Loss 22. Aug 1986 Los Angeles Hard Helena Suková Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 4–6, 3–6Loss 23. Nov 1986 Worcester Carpet (i) Helena Suková Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 5–7, 3–6Win 16. Nov 1986 Chicago Clay Helena Suková Steffi Graf Gabriela Sabatini 6–7(5–7), 7–6(7–5), 6–3Loss 24. Nov 1986 Virginia Slims Championship Carpet (i) Helena Suková Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 6–7(1–7), 3–6Win 17. Jan 1987 Tokyo Carpet (i) Helena Suková Elise Burgin Pam Shriver 6–1, 7–6(7–5)Loss 25. Feb 1987 Key Biscayne Hard Helena Suková Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 3–6, 6–7(6–8)Loss 26. Feb 1987 Rome Clay Helena Suková Martina Navratilova Gabriela Sabatini 4–6, 1–6Win 18. May 1987 Berlin Clay Helena Suková Catarina Lindqvist Tine Scheuer-Larsen 6–1, 6–2Win 19. Jun 1987 Wimbledon Grass Helena Suková Betsy Nagelsen Elizabeth Smylie 7–5, 7–5Loss 27. Aug 1987 Toronto Hard Helena Suková Zina Garrison Lori McNeil 1–6, 2–6Win 20. Sep 1987 Hamburg Clay Jana Novotná Natalia Bykova Leila Meskhi 7–6(7–1), 7–6(8–6)Win 21. Nov 1987 Chicago Carpet (i) Helena Suková Zina Garrison Lori McNeil 6–4, 6–3Loss 28. Nov 1987 Virginia Slims Championship Carpet (i) Helena Suková Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 1–6, 1–6Loss 29. Dec 1987 Brisbane Grass Helena Suková Betsy Nagelsen Pam Shriver 6–2, 5–7, 2–6Loss 30. Jan 1988 Sydney Grass Helena Suková Ann Henricksson Christiane Jolissaint 6–7(5–7), 6–4, 3–6Loss 31. Mar 1988 Boca Raton Hard Helena Suková Katrina Adams Zina Garrison 6–4, 5–7, 4–6Loss 32. Apr 1988 Hilton Head Clay Gabriela Sabatini Lori McNeil Martina Navratilova 2–6, 6–2, 3–6Loss 33. May 1988 Berlin Clay Helena Suková Isabelle Demongeot Nathalie Tauziat 2–6, 6–4, 4–6Loss 34. May 1988 French Open Clay Helena Suková Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 2–6, 5–7Loss 35. Oct 1988 Zürich Carpet (i) Helena Suková Isabelle Demongeot Nathalie Tauziat 3–6, 3–6Win 22. Nov 1988 Adelaide Hard Sylvia Hanika Jana Novotná Lori McNeil 7–5, 6–7(4–7), 6–4Loss 36. Jan 1989 Tokyo Carpet (i) Mary Joe Fernández Katrina Adams Zina Garrison 3–6, 6–3, 6–7(5–7)Loss 37. Aug 1989 Los Angeles Hard Mary Joe Fernández Martina Navratilova Wendy Turnbull 2–5 ret.Win 23. Feb 1991 Oslo Carpet (i) Silke Meier Sabine Appelmans Raffaella Reggi 3–6, 6–2, 6–4Win 24. Apr 1991 Hilton Head Clay Natasha Zvereva Mary-Lou Daniels Lise Gregory 6–4, 6–0Loss 38. Aug 1991 Toronto Hard Helena Suková Larisa Savchenko Natasha Zvereva 6–1, 5–7, 2–6Win 25. Feb 1992 Indian Wells Hard Stephanie Rehe Jill Hetherington Kathy Rinaldi 6–3, 6–3Loss 39. Sep 1992 Bayonne Carpet (i) Stephanie Rehe Linda Ferrando Petra Langrová 6–1, 3–6, 4–6

Performance timelines

Singles

Doubles