German tennis player
Claudia Kohde-Kilsch Country (sports) Germany [ 1] Born (1963-12-11 ) 11 December 1963 (age 60) Saarbrücken , West Germany Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) Turned pro 1980 Retired 1994 Plays Right-handed (one handed-backhand) Prize money $2,227,116 Career record 408–224 Career titles 8 Highest ranking No. 4 (2 September 1985) Australian Open SF (1985 , 1987 , 1988 ) French Open SF (1985 ) Wimbledon QF (1987 ) US Open QF (1985 , 1987 ) Olympic Games 2R (1988 ) Career record 438–175 Career titles 25 Highest ranking No. 3 (17 August 1987) Australian Open F (1982 , 1984 , 1985 ) French Open F (1984 , 1985 , 1988 ) Wimbledon W (1987 )US Open W (1985 )Tour Finals F (1983 , 1985 , 1986(Mar) , 1986(Nov) , 1987 ) Olympic Games SF (1988 ) Fed Cup 28–12
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.
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 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.
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 tournament finals [ edit ] [ edit ] Outcome Year Championship Surface Partner Opponents Score Runner-up 1982 Australian Open Grass Eva Pfaff Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 4–6, 2–6 Runner-up 1984 French Open Clay Hana Mandlíková 7–5, 3–6, 2–6 Runner-up 1984 Australian Open Grass Helena Suková 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 Betsy Nagelsen Elizabeth Smylie 7–5, 7–5 Runner-up 1988 French Open Clay 2–6, 5–7
[ edit ] 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 [ edit ] Year-end championships [ edit ] [ edit ] Outcome Year Location Surface Partner Opponents Score Runner-up 1983 New York Carpet (i) Eva Pfaff Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 5–7, 2–6 Runner-up 1985 New York Carpet (i) Helena Suková 7–6(7–4) , 4–6, 6–7(5–7) Runner-up 1986 (Mar.) New York Carpet (i) Hana Mandlíková Wendy Turnbull 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
Winner – Legend Grand 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 surface Hard (1–1) Grass (1–0) Clay (3–4) Carpet (3–3)
Outcome No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score Winner 1. 12 January 1981 Toronto Carpet (i) Nina Bohm 4–6, 6–2, 7–5 Winner 2. 13 July 1981 Kitzbühel Clay Sylvia Hanika 7–5, 7–6 Winner 3. 25 January 1982 Pittsburgh Carpet (i) Eva Pfaff 6–4, 6–0 Winner 4. 17 March 1982 Austin Carpet (i) Helena Suková 7–6(7–0) , 0–6, 6–3 Runner-up 1. 9 April 1984 Hilton Head Clay Chris Evert-Lloyd 2–6, 3–6 Winner 5. 14 May 1984 Berlin Clay Kathleen Horvath 7–6(10–8) , 6–1 Runner-up 2. 29 October 1984 Zürich Carpet (i) Zina Garrison 1–6, 6–0, 2–6 Runner-up 3. 10 December 1984 Tokyo Carpet (i) Manuela Maleeva 6–3, 4–6, 4–6 Winner 6. 29 July 1985 Los Angeles Hard Pam Shriver 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) Martina Navratilova 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 Steffi Graf 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 Rachel McQuillan 7–6(7–5) , 6–4
[ edit ] Winner – Legend Grand 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 surface Hard (5–8) Grass (2–9) Clay (10–8) Carpet (8–14)
Outcome No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score Winner 1. 21 July 1980 Kitzbühel Clay Eva Pfaff Hana Mandlíková Renáta Tomanová w/o Winner 2. 13 July 1981 Kitzbühel Hard Elizabeth Little Yvonne Vermaak 6–4, 6–3 Runner-up 1. 17 May 1982 Berlin Clay Bettina Bunge Liz Gordon Beverly Mould 3–6, 4–6 Runner-up 2. 15 November 1982 Brisbane Grass Billie Jean King Anne Smith 3–6, 4–6 Runner-up 3. 22 November 1982 Sydney Grass Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver 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) Rosie Casals Wendy Turnbull 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 Jo Durie Anne Hobbs 4–6, 6–7(2–7) Winner 4. 4 July 1983 Hittfeld Clay Bettina Bunge Ivanna Madruga Catherine Tanvier 7–5, 6–4 Winner 5. 9 April 1984 Hilton Head Clay Sharon Walsh 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 Kathy Jordan Elizabeth Sayers 1–6, 2–6 Winner 7. 15 October 1984 Filderstadt Carpet (i) Helena Suková 6–2, 4–6, 6–3 Runner-up 9. 29 October 1984 Zürich Carpet (i) Andrea Leand Andrea Temesvári 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) Gigi Fernández 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 Steffi Graf 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 Kathy Jordan 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) Marcella Mesker 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 Gabriela Sabatini 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) Elise Burgin 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 Catarina Lindqvist Tine Scheuer-Larsen 6–1, 6–2 Winner 19. 22 June 1987 Wimbledon Grass Betsy Nagelsen Elizabeth Smylie 7–5, 7–5 Runner-up 27. 17 August 1987 Toronto Hard Zina Garrison Lori McNeil 1–6, 2–6 Winner 20. 21 September 1987 Hamburg Clay Jana Novotná Natalia Bykova Leila Meskhi 7–6(7–1) , 7–6(8–6) Winner 21. 9 November 1987 Chicago Carpet (i) Zina Garrison 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 Ann Henricksson Christiane Jolissaint 6–7(5–7) , 6–4, 3–6 Runner-up 31. 7 March 1988 Boca Raton Hard Katrina Adams 6–4, 5–7, 4–6 Runner-up 32. 4 April 1988 Hilton Head Clay 2–6, 6–2, 3–6 Runner-up 33. 9 May 1988 Berlin Clay Isabelle Demongeot Nathalie Tauziat 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 Sylvia Hanika 7–5, 6–7(4–7) , 6–4 Runner-up 36. 30 January 1989 Tokyo Carpet (i) Mary Joe Fernández 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) Silke Meier Sabine Appelmans Raffaella Reggi 3–6, 6–2, 6–4 Winner 24. 1 April 1991 Hilton Head Clay Natasha Zvereva Mary-Lou Daniels Lise Gregory 6–4, 6–0 Runner-up 38. 5 August 1991 Toronto Hard Larisa Savchenko 6–1, 5–7, 2–6 Winner 25. 24 February 1992 Indian Wells Hard Stephanie Rehe Jill Hetherington Kathy Rinaldi 6–3, 6–3 Runner-up 39. 28 September 1992 Bayonne Carpet (i) Linda Ferrando Petra Langrová 6–1, 3–6, 4–6
Key W F SF QF #R RR Q# DNQ A NH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.
French
Deutsch.JPG)
Germany[1]
Martina Navratilova 
Hana Mandlíková
Elizabeth Smylie
Nina Bohm 
Manuela Maleeva 
Yvonne Vermaak 
Jo Durie 
Ivanna Madruga 
Catherine Tanvier 
Andrea Temesvári 
Marcella Mesker 
Tine Scheuer-Larsen 
Natalia Bykova 
Christiane Jolissaint 
Sabine Appelmans 
Raffaella Reggi 
Jill Hetherington 
