Kathy Rinaldi
Kathy Rinaldi-Stunkel (born March 24, 1967) is a former professional American tennis player, who retired in September 1997. She won three singles and two doubles titles during her career on the WTA Tour, and reached the semifinals of the 1985 Wimbledon Championships.
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Country (sports) | ![]() |
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Residence | Palm City, Florida |
Born | Stuart, Florida | March 24, 1967
Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) |
Turned pro | 1980 |
Retired | September 1997 |
Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
Prize money | $1,353,737 |
Singles | |
Career record | 277–217 |
Career titles | 3 WTA, 0 ITF |
Highest ranking | No. 7 (May 26, 1986) |
Grand Slam Singles results | |
Australian Open | 3R (1984) |
French Open | QF (1981, 1986) |
Wimbledon | SF (1985) |
US Open | 4R (1982) |
Doubles | |
Career record | 200–184 |
Career titles | 2 WTA, 2 ITF |
Highest ranking | No. 13 (February 8, 1993) |
Career
Rinaldi reached her highest career ranking on May 26, 1986, when she was ranked world No. 7. The recipient of WTA Most Impressive Newcomer Award in 1981 and WTA Comeback Player of the Year Award in 1989, she had career wins over top players such as Steffi Graf, Jana Novotná, Sue Barker, Pam Shriver, Hana Mandlíková, Wendy Turnbull, Manuela Maleeva, Dianne Fromholtz, Helena Suková, Claudia Kohde-Kilsch, Zina Garrison, Sylvia Hanika, Kathy Jordan, Jo Durie, and Natasha Zvereva.
Rinaldi was the youngest player to win a match at Wimbledon (14 years, 91 days) in 1981, a record that stood until 1990. After the 1987 French Open, she suffered a freak injury in Monte Carlo, slipping on stairs, and in trying to catch herself, fracturing her right thumb. This injury sidelined her for rest of the year. She was a member of the US Wightman Cup Team in 1983, 1985, and 1986.
Fed Cup
In December 2016, Rinaldi was appointed as the captain of the United States Fed Cup team, succeeding Mary Joe Fernandez.[1][2] In her first year as Fed Cup captain, the U.S. won the 2017 Fed Cup.
Family
Rinaldi married Brad Stunkel, her high school sweetheart, on December 11, 1993, and adopted his surname. She gave birth to son Bradley Benton Stunkel, Jr. on February 8, 1995. The family currently resides in Palm City, Florida.
Awards and recognitions
WTA career finals
Singles: 7 (3–4)
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Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
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Winner | 1. | October 18, 1981 | Kyoto | Hard | ![]() |
6–1, 7–5 |
Runner-up | 1. | May 24, 1982 | Berlin | Clay | ![]() |
2–6, 2–6 |
Runner-up | 2. | July 26, 1982 | San Diego | Hard | ![]() |
6–7(5–7), 3–6 |
Winner | 2. | August 18, 1985 | Mahwah | Hard | ![]() |
6–4, 3–6, 6–4 |
Runner-up | 3. | September 22, 1985 | Chicago | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
1–6, 3–6 |
Runner-up | 4. | May 11, 1986 | Houston | Clay | ![]() |
4–6, 6–2, 4–6 |
Winner | 3. | November 16, 1986 | Little Rock | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
6–4, 6–7(7–9), 6–0 |
Doubles: 12 (2–10)
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Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
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Runner-up | 1. | March 31, 1991 | San Antonio | Hard | ![]() |
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6–7(2–7), 2–6 |
Winner | 1. | April 21, 1991 | Houston | Clay | ![]() |
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6–1, 2–6, 6–1 |
Winner | 2. | August 4, 1991 | San Diego | Hard | ![]() |
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6–4, 3–6, 6–2 |
Runner-up | 2. | October 6, 1991 | Leipzig | Carpet (i) | ![]() |
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4–6, 3–6 |
Runner-up | 3. | February 2, 1992 | Auckland | Hard | ![]() |
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6–1, 1–6, 5–7 |
Runner-up | 4. | March 1, 1992 | Indian Wells | Hard | ![]() |
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3–6, 3–6 |
Runner-up | 5. | March 22, 1992 | Key Biscayne | Hard | ![]() |
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5–7, 7–5, 3–6 |
Runner-up | 6. | April 19, 1992 | Houston | Clay | ![]() |
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5–7, 4–6 |
Runner-up | 7. | November 1, 1992 | San Juan | Hard | ![]() |
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2–6, 6–4, 2–6 |
Runner-up | 8. | February 7, 1993 | Auckland | Hard | ![]() |
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2–6, 4–6 |
Runner-up | 9. | March 21, 1993 | Key Biscayne | Hard | ![]() |
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2–6, 5–7 |
Runner-up | 10. | May 23, 1993 | Strasbourg | Clay | ![]() |
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7–6(7–5), 3–6, 4–6 |
Grand Slam singles performance timeline
W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | A | NH |
Tournament | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | Career W–L |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australian Open | A | A | 1R | 3R | A | NH | A | A | A | 2R | 1R | A | 1R | 1R | A | A | 3–6 |
French Open | QF | 4R | 4R | 3R | 3R | QF | 3R | 1R | 2R | 1R | 2R | 1R | 3R | A | A | A | 24–13 |
Wimbledon | 2R | 3R | 4R | 1R | SF | 1R | A | A | 1R | 1R | 1R | 2R | 2R | A | A | 1R | 13–12 |
US Open | 1R | 4R | 2R | 2R | 1R | 1R | A | 1R | 2R | 2R | 2R | 2R | 1R | A | 1R | 1R | 9–14 |
Win–Loss | 5–3 | 8–3 | 7–4 | 5–4 | 7–3 | 4–3 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 3–4 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 49–45 |
Year-end ranking | 33 | 15 | 16 | 23 | 11 | 8 | 26 | 88 | 52 | 69 | 105 | 111 | 83 | NR | NR | 225 |
- SR = the ratio of the number of Grand Slam singles tournaments won to the number played.
References
- Ashley Marshall (December 8, 2016). "Rinaldi to lead U.S. Fed Cup team in expanded captaincy role". www.usta.com. United States Tennis Association (USTA).
- Sandra Harwitt (December 9, 2016). "Rinaldi appointed USA Fed Cup captain". www.fedcup.com. International Tennis Federation (ITF).
External links
- Kathy Rinaldi at the Women's Tennis Association
- Kathy Rinaldi at the International Tennis Federation
Awards and achievements | ||
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Preceded by![]() |
WTA Most Impressive Newcomer of the Year 1981 |
Succeeded by![]() |
Preceded by![]() |
WTA Comeback of the Year 1989 |
Succeeded by![]() |