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.

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)

Mixed doubles: 2 (2 titles) ResultYearChampionshipSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreWin 1986 French Open Clay Kathy Jordan Rosalyn Fairbank Mark Edmondson 3–6, 7–6(7–3), 6–3Win 1986 Wimbledon Grass Kathy Jordan Martina Navratilova Heinz Günthardt 6–3, 7–6(9–7)

Olympic men's doubles final ResultYearChampionshipSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreGold 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) ResultNoDateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreLoss 1. Dec 1983 Taipei, Taiwan Carpet Robert Seguso Wally Masur Kim Warwick 6–7, 4–6Win 1. Jun 1984 Rome, Italy Clay Robert Seguso John Alexander Mike Leach 3–6, 6–3, 6–4Loss 2. Jul 1984 Newport, US Grass Robert Seguso David Graham Laurie Warder 4–6, 6–7Win 2. Jul 1984 Boston, US Clay Robert Seguso Gary Donnelly Ernie Fernandez 6–4, 6–4Win 3. Aug 1984 Indianapolis, US Clay Robert Seguso Heinz Günthardt Balázs Taróczy 7–6, 7–5Win 4. Sep 1984 Los Angeles, US Hard Robert Seguso Wojtek Fibak Sandy Mayer 4–6, 6–4, 6–3Win 5. Oct 1984 Hong Kong Hard Robert Seguso Mark Edmondson Paul McNamee 6–7, 6–3, 7–5Win 6. Nov 1984 Taipei, Taiwan Carpet Robert Seguso Drew Gitlin Hank Pfister 6–1, 6–7, 6–2Win 7. Jan 1985 Masters Doubles WCT, London Carpet (i) Robert Seguso Heinz Günthardt Balázs Taróczy 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 6–0Loss 3. Feb 1985 La Quinta, US Hard Robert Seguso Heinz Günthardt Balázs Taróczy 6–3, 6–7, 3–6Win 8. Apr 1985 Fort Myers, US Hard Robert Seguso Sammy Giammalva Jr. David Pate 3–6, 6–3, 6–3Loss 4. Apr 1985 Chicago, US Carpet (i) Robert Seguso Johan Kriek Yannick Noah 6–3, 6–4, 5–7, 1–6, 4–6Win 9. May 1985 Forest Hills, US Clay Robert Seguso Givaldo Barbosa Ivan Kley 7–5, 6–2Loss 5. May 1985 Rome, Italy Clay Robert Seguso Anders Järryd Mats Wilander 6–4, 3–6, 2–6Win 10. Jun 1985 Queen's Club, UK Grass Robert Seguso Pat Cash John Fitzgerald 3–6, 6–3, 16–14Win 11. Jul 1985 Indianapolis, US Clay Robert Seguso Pavel Složil Kim Warwick 6–4, 6–4Loss 6. Aug 1985 Stratton Mountain, US Hard Robert Seguso Scott Davis David Pate 6–3, 6–7, 6–7Win 12. Aug 1985 Montreal, Canada Hard Robert Seguso Stefan Edberg Anders Järryd 5–7, 7–6, 6–3Win 13. Sep 1985 US Open, New York Hard Robert Seguso Henri Leconte Yannick Noah 6–7, 7–6, 7–6, 6–0Win 14. Oct 1985 Tokyo Indoor, Japan Carpet (i) Robert Seguso Scott Davis David Pate 4–6, 6–3, 7–6Win 15. Feb 1986 Memphis, US Carpet (i) Robert Seguso Guy Forget Anders Järryd 6–4, 4–6, 7–6Win 16. Mar 1986 Chicago, US Carpet (i) Robert Seguso Eddie Edwards Francisco González 6–0, 7–5Win 17. Oct 1986 Tokyo Outdoor, Japan Carpet Matt Anger Jimmy Arias Greg Holmes 6–2, 6–3Loss 7. Mar 1987 Miami, US Hard Robert Seguso Paul Annacone Christo van Rensburg 2–6, 4–6, 4–6Loss 8. Apr 1987 Seoul, South Korea Hard Jim Grabb Eric Korita Mike Leach 7–6, 1–6, 5–7Win 18. Jul 1987 Wimbledon, London Grass Robert Seguso Sergio Casal Emilio Sánchez 3–6, 6–7, 7–6, 6–1, 6–4Loss 9. Jul 1987 Livingston, US Hard Robert Seguso Gary Donnelly Greg Holmes 6–7, 3–6Win 19. Aug 1987 Cincinnati, US Hard Robert Seguso Steve Denton John Fitzgerald 7–5, 6–3Loss 10. Sep 1987 US Open, New York Hard Robert Seguso Stefan Edberg Anders Järryd 6–7, 2–6, 6–4, 7–5, 6–7Loss 11. Nov 1987 Wembley, UK Carpet (i) Robert Seguso Miloslav Mečíř Tomáš Šmíd 5–7, 4–6Loss 12. Dec 1987 Masters Doubles, London Carpet (i) Robert Seguso Miloslav Mečíř Tomáš Šmíd 4–6, 5–7, 7–6, 3–6Loss 13. Mar 1988 Miami, US Hard Robert Seguso John Fitzgerald Anders Järryd 6–7, 1–6, 5–7Win 20. Jun 1988 Queen's Club, UK Grass Robert Seguso Pieter Aldrich Danie Visser 6–2, 7–6Win 21. Jul 1988 Wimbledon, London Grass Robert Seguso John Fitzgerald Anders Järryd 6–4, 2–6, 6–4, 7–6Loss 14. Aug 1988 Indianapolis, US Hard Robert Seguso Rick Leach Jim Pugh 4–6, 3–6Win 22. Aug 1988 Toronto, Canada Hard Robert Seguso Andrew Castle Tim Wilkison 7–6, 6–3Win 23. Sep 1988 Seoul, South Korea Hard Robert Seguso Sergio Casal Emilio Sánchez 6–3, 6–4, 6–7, 6–7, 9–7Win 24. Nov 1988 Wembley, UK Carpet (i) Robert Seguso Martin Davis Brad Drewett 7–5, 6–2Loss 15. Nov 1988 Detroit, US Carpet (i) Robert Seguso Rick Leach Jim Pugh 4–6, 1–6Win 25. Apr 1989 Tokyo Outdoor, Japan Hard Robert Seguso Kevin Curren David Pate 7–6, 7–6Win 26. Aug 1989 Cincinnati, US Hard Robert Seguso Pieter Aldrich Danie Visser 6–4, 6–4Loss 16. Sep 1989 US Open, New York Hard Robert Seguso John McEnroe Mark Woodforde 4–6, 6–4, 3–6, 3–6Loss 17. Oct 1989 Orlando, US Hard Robert Seguso Scott Davis Tim Pawsat 5–7, 7–5, 4–6Loss 18. Mar 1991 Miami, US Hard Robert Seguso Wayne Ferreira Piet Norval 7–5, 6–7, 2–6Win 27. May 1991 Tampa, US Clay Robert Seguso David Pate Richey Reneberg 6–7, 6–4, 6–1Loss 19. Jul 1991 Washington, D.C., US Hard Robert Seguso Scott Davis David Pate 4–6, 2–6Win 28. Aug 1991 Cincinnati, US Hard Robert Seguso Grant Connell Glenn Michibata 6–7, 6–4, 7–5Win 29. Aug 1991 Indianapolis, US Hard Robert Seguso Kent Kinnear Sven Salumaa 7–6, 6–4Loss 20. Nov 1991 Doubles Championships, Johannesburg Hard (i) Robert Seguso John Fitzgerald Anders Järryd 4–6, 4–6, 6–2, 4–6Win 30. Mar 1992 Miami, US Hard Todd Witsken Kent Kinnear Sven Salumaa 6–4, 6–3Loss 21. Jul 1992 Washington, D.C., US Hard Todd Witsken Bret Garnett Jared Palmer 2–6, 3–6Win 31. Apr 1993 Tokyo Outdoor, Japan Hard Rick Leach Glenn Michibata David Pate 2–6, 6–3, 6–4Win 32. Jun 1993 Manchester, UK Grass Rick Leach Stefan Kruger Glenn Michibata 6–4, 6–1Loss 22. Aug 1993 Indianapolis, US Hard Rick Leach Scott Davis Todd Martin 4–6, 4–6Win 33. Sep 1993 US Open, New York Hard Rick Leach Martin Damm Karel Nováček 6–7, 6–4, 6–2Win 34. Feb 1994 Scottsdale, US Hard Jan Apell Alex O'Brien Sandon Stolle 6–0, 6–4Loss 23. May 1994 Coral Springs, US Clay Stephane Simian Lan Bale Brett Steven 3–6, 5–7Loss 24. May 1996 Pinehurst, US Clay David Wheaton Pat Cash Pat Rafter 2–6, 3–6

Doubles performance timeline