Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Claudia Kohde-Kilsch (née 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.
Country (sports) | ||||||||
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Born | Saarbrücken, West Germany | 11 December 1963|||||||
Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | |||||||
Turned pro | 1980 | |||||||
Retired | 1994 | |||||||
Plays | Right-handed (one handed-backhand) | |||||||
Prize money | $2,227,116 | |||||||
Singles | ||||||||
Career record | 408–224 | |||||||
Career titles | 8 | |||||||
Highest ranking | No. 4 (2 September 1985) | |||||||
Grand Slam Singles results | ||||||||
Australian Open | SF (1985, 1987, 1988) | |||||||
French Open | SF (1985) | |||||||
Wimbledon | QF (1987) | |||||||
US Open | QF (1985, 1987) | |||||||
Other tournaments | ||||||||
Olympic Games | 2R (1988) | |||||||
Doubles | ||||||||
Career record | 438–175 | |||||||
Career titles | 25 | |||||||
Highest ranking | No. 3 (17 August 1987) | |||||||
Grand Slam Doubles results | ||||||||
Australian Open | F (1982, 1984, 1985) | |||||||
French Open | F (1984, 1985, 1988) | |||||||
Wimbledon | W (1987) | |||||||
US Open | W (1985) | |||||||
Other doubles tournaments | ||||||||
Tour Finals | F (1983, 1985, 1986(Mar), 1986(Nov), 1987) | |||||||
Olympic Games | SF (1988) | |||||||
Team competitions | ||||||||
Fed Cup | 28–12 | |||||||
Medal record
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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.[2]
She currently lives in Saarland with her husband, Chris Bennett, and their son, Fynn. The couple operate CeKay Music, a music publishing house and production company.
Career
Kohde-Kilsch turned professional on 1 January 1980, and by 1981 she had handed a first round defeat to Martina Navratilova in Oakland. She went on to win four singles titles that year. 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 semi-finals and also won in Los Angeles. Later that year, she defeated Navrátilová in the quarter-finals on the way to a final round match with Chris Evert at the Canadian Open, where she eventually lost to Evert, 2–6, 4–6. 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 won the 1985 US Open women's doubles championship with Helena Suková and in 1987, partnering again with Suková, she won the Wimbledon championships.
Between 1984 and 1987, Kohde-Kilsch and Suková, sometimes referred to as the "twin towers" for their height, paired to win 14 doubles tournaments. At the 1988 Summer Olympics, she partnered with Steffi Graf in the doubles competition and together they were awarded the bronze medal in the event.
Major finals
Grand Slam tournaments
Women's doubles: 8 (2 titles, 6 runners-up)
Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
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Runner-up | 1982 | Australian Open | Grass | 4–6, 2–6 | ||
Runner-up | 1984 | French Open | Clay | 7–5, 3–6, 2–6 | ||
Runner-up | 1984 | Australian Open | Grass | 3–6, 4–6 | ||
Runner-up | 1985 | French Open | Clay | 6–4, 2–6, 2–6 | ||
Winner | 1985 | US Open | Hard | 6–7(5–7), 6–2, 6–3 | ||
Runner-up | 1985 | Australian Open | Grass | 3–6, 4–6 | ||
Winner | 1987 | Wimbledon | Grass | 7–5, 7–5 | ||
Runner-up | 1988 | French Open | Clay | 2–6, 5–7 |
Olympics
Doubles: 1 bronze medal
Outcome | Year | Location | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
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Bronze | 1988 | Seoul | Hard | Tied | DNP |
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.
Year-end championships
Doubles: 5 runners-up
Outcome | Year | Location | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
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Runner-up | 1983 | New York | Carpet (i) | 5–7, 2–6 | ||
Runner-up | 1985 | New York | Carpet (i) | 7–6(7–4), 4–6, 6–7(5–7) | ||
Runner-up | 1986 (Mar.) | New York | Carpet (i) | 4–6, 7–6(7–4), 3–6 | ||
Runner-up | 1986 (Nov.) | New York | Carpet (i) | 6–7(1–7), 3–6 | ||
Runner-up | 1987 | New York | Carpet (i) | 1–6, 1–6 |
WTA career finals
Singles: 16 (8–8)
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Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
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Winner | 1. | 12 January 1981 | Toronto | Carpet (i) | 4–6, 6–2, 7–5 | |
Winner | 2. | 13 July 1981 | Kitzbühel | Clay | 7–5, 7–6 | |
Winner | 3. | 25 January 1982 | Pittsburgh | Carpet (i) | 6–4, 6–0 | |
Winner | 4. | 17 March 1982 | Austin | Carpet (i) | 7–6(7–0), 0–6, 6–3 | |
Runner-up | 1. | 9 April 1984 | Hilton Head Island | Clay | 2–6, 3–6 | |
Winner | 5. | 14 May 1984 | Berlin | Clay | 7–6(10–8), 6–1 | |
Runner-up | 2. | 29 October 1984 | Zürich | Carpet (i) | 1–6, 6–0, 2–6 | |
Runner-up | 3. | 10 December 1984 | Tokyo | Carpet (i) | 6–3, 4–6, 4–6 | |
Winner | 6. | 29 July 1985 | Los Angeles | Hard | 6–2, 6–4 | |
Runner-up | 4. | 5 August 1985 | Toronto | Hard | 2–6, 4–6 | |
Runner-up | 5. | 13 January 1986 | Worcester | Carpet (i) | 6–4, 1–6, 4–6 | |
Runner-up | 6. | 31 March 1986 | Marco Island | Clay | 4–6, 2–6 | |
Runner-up | 7. | 14 April 1986 | Amelia Island | Clay | 4–6, 7–5, 6–7(3–7) | |
Runner-up | 8. | 11 May 1987 | Berlin | Clay | 2–6, 3–6 | |
Winner | 7. | 6 June 1988 | Birmingham | Grass | 6–1, 6–2 | |
Winner | 8. | 10 September 1990 | Kitzbühel | Clay | 7–6(7–5), 6–4 |
Doubles: 64 (25–39)
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Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
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Winner | 1. | 21 July 1980 | Kitzbühel | Clay | w/o | ||
Winner | 2. | 13 July 1981 | Kitzbühel | Hard | 6–4, 6–3 | ||
Runner-up | 1. | 17 May 1982 | Berlin | Clay | 3–6, 4–6 | ||
Runner-up | 2. | 15 November 1982 | Brisbane | Grass | 3–6, 4–6 | ||
Runner-up | 3. | 22 November 1982 | Sydney | Grass | 3–6, 6–2, 6–7 | ||
Runner-up | 4. | 29 November 1982 | Australian Open | Grass | 4–6, 2–6 | ||
Winner | 3. | 21 February 1983 | Oakland | Carpet (i) | 6–4, 4–6, 6–4 | ||
Runner-up | 5. | 23 March 1983 | Virginia Slims Championships | Carpet (i) | 5–7, 2–6 | ||
Runner-up | 6. | 16 May 1983 | Berlin | Clay | 4–6, 6–7(2–7) | ||
Winner | 4. | 4 July 1983 | Hittfeld | Clay | 7–5, 6–4 | ||
Winner | 5. | 9 April 1984 | Hilton Head Island | Clay | 7–5, 6–2 | ||
Winner | 6. | 23 April 1984 | Orlando | Clay | 6–0, 1–6, 6–3 | ||
Runner-up | 7. | 28 May 1984 | French Open | Clay | 7–5, 3–6, 2–6 | ||
Runner-up | 8. | 20 August 1984 | Montreal | Hard | 1–6, 2–6 | ||
Winner | 7. | 15 October 1984 | Filderstadt | Carpet (i) | 6–2, 4–6, 6–3 | ||
Runner-up | 9. | 29 October 1984 | Zürich | Carpet (i) | 1–6, 3–6 | ||
Winner | 8. | 19 November 1984 | Sydney | Grass | 6–2, 7–6(7–4) | ||
Runner-up | 10. | 29 November 1984 | Australian Open | Grass | 3–6, 4–6 | ||
Winner | 9. | 10 December 1984 | Tokyo | Carpet (i) | 6–4, 6–4 | ||
Runner-up | 11. | 7 January 1985 | Washington | Carpet (i) | 3–6, 6–3, 3–6 | ||
Runner-up | 12. | 18 March 1985 | Virginia Slims Championships | Carpet (i) | 7–6(7–4), 4–6, 6–7(5–7) | ||
Winner | 10. | 13 May 1985 | Berlin | Clay | 6–4, 6–1 | ||
Runner-up | 13. | 27 May 1985 | French Open | Clay | 6–4, 2–6, 2–6 | ||
Winner | 11. | 29 July 1985 | Los Angeles | Hard | 6–4, 6–2 | ||
Runner-up | 14. | 12 August 1985 | Mahwah | Hard | 6–7(6–8), 3–6 | ||
Winner | 12. | 26 August 1985 | US Open | Hard | 6–7(5–7), 6–2, 6–3 | ||
Runner-up | 15. | 28 October 1985 | Zürich | Carpet (i) | 4–6, 6–3, 5–7 | ||
Runner-up | 16. | 11 November 1985 | Brisbane | Grass | 4–6, 7–6(8–6), 1–6 | ||
Runner-up | 17. | 25 November 1985 | Australian Open | Grass | 3–6, 4–6 | ||
Winner | 13. | 9 December 1985 | Tokyo | Carpet (i) | 6–0, 6–4 | ||
Runner-up | 18. | 6 January 1986 | Washington | Carpet (i) | 3–6, 4–6 | ||
Runner-up | 19. | 13 January 1986 | Worcester | Carpet (i) | 3–6, 1–6 | ||
Winner | 14. | 10 March 1986 | Dallas | Carpet (i) | 4–6, 7–5, 6–4 | ||
Runner-up | 20. | 17 March 1986 | Virginia Slims Championship | Carpet (i) | 4–6, 7–6(7–4), 3–6 | ||
Winner | 15. | 14 April 1986 | Amelia Island | Clay | 6–2, 5–7, 7–6(9–7) | ||
Runner-up | 21. | 16 June 1986 | Eastbourne | Grass | 2–6, 4–6 | ||
Runner-up | 22. | 11 August 1986 | Los Angeles | Hard | 4–6, 3–6 | ||
Runner-up | 23. | 3 November 1986 | Worcester | Carpet (i) | 5–7, 3–6 | ||
Winner | 16. | 10 November 1986 | Chicago | Clay | 6–7(5–7), 7–6(7–5), 6–3 | ||
Runner-up | 24. | 17 November 1986 | Virginia Slims Championship | Carpet (i) | 6–7(1–7), 3–6 | ||
Winner | 17. | 30 January 1987 | Tokyo | Carpet (i) | 6–1, 7–6(7–5) | ||
Runner-up | 25. | 23 February 1987 | Key Biscayne | Hard | 3–6, 6–7(6–8) | ||
Runner-up | 26. | 23 February 1987 | Rome | Clay | 4–6, 1–6 | ||
Winner | 18. | 11 May 1987 | Berlin | Clay | 6–1, 6–2 | ||
Winner | 19. | 22 June 1987 | Wimbledon | Grass | 7–5, 7–5 | ||
Runner-up | 27. | 17 August 1987 | Toronto | Hard | 1–6, 2–6 | ||
Winner | 20. | 21 September 1987 | Hamburg | Clay | 7–6(7–1), 7–6(8–6) | ||
Winner | 21. | 9 November 1987 | Chicago | Carpet (i) | 6–4, 6–3 | ||
Runner-up | 28. | 16 November 1987 | Virginia Slims Championship | Carpet (i) | 1–6, 1–6 | ||
Runner-up | 29. | 28 December 1987 | Brisbane | Grass | 6–2, 5–7, 2–6 | ||
Runner-up | 30. | 4 January 1988 | Sydney | Grass | 6–7(5–7), 6–4, 3–6 | ||
Runner-up | 31. | 7 March 1988 | Boca Raton | Hard | 6–4, 5–7, 4–6 | ||
Runner-up | 32. | 4 April 1988 | Hilton Head Island | Clay | 2–6, 6–2, 3–6 | ||
Runner-up | 33. | 9 May 1988 | Berlin | Clay | 2–6, 6–4, 4–6 | ||
Runner-up | 34. | 23 May 1988 | French Open | Clay | 2–6, 5–7 | ||
Runner-up | 35. | 17 October 1988 | Zürich | Carpet (i) | 3–6, 3–6 | ||
Winner | 22. | 28 November 1988 | Adelaide | Hard | 7–5, 6–7(4–7), 6–4 | ||
Runner-up | 36. | 30 January 1989 | Tokyo | Carpet (i) | 3–6, 6–3, 6–7(5–7) | ||
Runner-up | 37. | 7 August 1989 | Los Angeles | Hard | 2–5 ret. | ||
Winner | 23. | 4 February 1991 | Oslo | Carpet (i) | 3–6, 6–2, 6–4 | ||
Winner | 24. | 1 April 1991 | Hilton Head Island | Clay | 6–4, 6–0 | ||
Runner-up | 38. | 5 August 1991 | Toronto | Hard | 6–1, 5–7, 2–6 | ||
Winner | 25. | 24 February 1992 | Indian Wells | Hard | 6–3, 6–3 | ||
Runner-up | 39. | 28 September 1992 | Bayonne | Carpet (i) | 6–1, 3–6, 4–6 |
Grand Slam performance timeline
W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | A | NH |
Singles
Tournament | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | Career SR |
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Australian Open | 1R | 1R | 3R | 3R | 3R | SF | NH | SF | SF | QF | 1R | 1R | 2R | 0 / 12 |
French Open | 1R | 1R | 2R | 3R | 4R | SF | 4R | QF | 3R | 1R | 2R | 2R | 1R | 0 / 13 |
Wimbledon | A | 2R | 4R | 4R | 4R | 2R | 3R | QF | A | 3R | 3R | 3R | 2R | 0 / 11 |
US Open | A | 1R | 3R | 2R | 4R | QF | 4R | QF | 3R | 1R | A | 1R | A | 0 / 10 |
SR | 0 / 2 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 46 |
Year End Ranking | 78 | 20 | 19 | 24 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 36 | 46 | 78 | 79 |
Doubles
Tournament | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | Career SR |
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Australian Open | QF | 1R | F | 1R | F | F | NH | SF | A | 3R | A | 1R | 3R | 0 / 10 |
French Open | 1R | SF | QF | QF | F | F | SF | SF | F | 1R | QF | 3R | 1R | 0 / 13 |
Wimbledon | A | 1R | SF | QF | QF | SF | 2R | W | A | 3R | 2R | 3R | 3R | 1 / 11 |
US Open | A | QF | SF | A | 3R | W | QF | QF | 3R | A | A | QF | A | 1 / 8 |
SR | 0 / 2 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 4 | 1 / 4 | 0 / 3 | 1 / 4 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 3 | 0 / 2 | 0 / 4 | 0 / 3 | 2 / 42 |
Year End Ranking | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 37 | 52 | 24 | 25 |
References
- before German reunification, she played for West Germany
- "Lafontaine: Claudia Kohde-Kilsch wird seine Sprecherin". Augsburger Allgemeine (in German). 30 April 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
External links
- Official website (in German)
- Claudia Kohde-Kilsch at the Women's Tennis Association
- Claudia Kohde-Kilsch at the International Tennis Federation
- Claudia Kohde-Kilsch at the Fed Cup