Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Encyclopedia
Claudia Kohde-Kilsch (born 11 December 1963 in Saarbrücken
) is a former German
tennis
player. During her career, she won two women's doubles Grand Slam titles. She also won 10 singles titles and 26 doubles titles.
Kohde-Kilsch turned professional on 1 January 1980, and by 1981 she had handed a rare first round defeat to Martina Navrátilová 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(8), 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, 6–2, 6–4. In 1987, she again reached the finals of the German Open
, where she lost to a rising Steffi Graf
6–2, 6–3.
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 1987 Wimbledon women's doubles championship
.
Between 1983 and 1987 Kohde-Kilsch and Suková, sometimes referred to as the "twin towers" for their height, paired to win 19 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.
Kohde-Kilsch 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.
Saarbrücken
Saarbrücken is the capital of the state of Saarland in Germany. The city is situated at the heart of a metropolitan area that borders on the west on Dillingen and to the north-east on Neunkirchen, where most of the people of the Saarland live....
) is a former German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
player. During her career, she won two women's doubles Grand Slam titles. She also won 10 singles titles and 26 doubles titles.
Career
Kohde-Kilsch was born Claudia Kohde, but added the hyphenated "-Kilsch" to her name which came from her adoptive father Jurgen Kilsch, an attorney. She has 1 younger sister, Katrin. She began playing tennis when she only 5, and was soon a rising junior player.Kohde-Kilsch turned professional on 1 January 1980, and by 1981 she had handed a rare first round defeat to Martina Navrátilová 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
Qatar Telecom German Open
The German Open, sponsored from 2006 through 2008 as the Qatar Telecom German Open, was a WTA Tour affiliated professional tennis tournament for women played in Berlin, Germany. Held since 1896, it was one of the oldest tournaments for women...
, defeating Kathleen Horvath
Kathleen Horvath
Erica Kathleen "Kathy" Horvath is a former professional tennis player.-Career:Horvath was the youngest player to win the U.S. National 16s in 1979. She also is the only player to ever win all four age groups in the U.S...
of the United States, 7–6(8), 6–1.
In 1985, she reached the Australian Open
Australian Open
The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament held in the southern hemisphere. The tournament was held for the first time in 1905 and was last contested on grass in 1987. Since 1972 the Australian Open has been held in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1988, the tournament became a hard court...
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
Chris Evert
Christine Marie "Chris" Evert is a former world number 1 professional tennis player from the United States. She won 18 Grand Slam singles championships, including a record seven championships at the French Open and a record six championships at the U.S. Open. She was the year-ending World No...
at the Canadian Open
Canada Masters
The Canada Masters , currently sponsored as the Rogers Cup, is an annual tennis tournament held in Canada. The men's competition is a Masters 1000 event on the Association of Tennis Professionals tour. The women's competition is a Premier 5 tournament on the Women's Tennis Association tour...
, where she eventually lost to Evert, 6–2, 6–4. In 1987, she again reached the finals of the German Open
Qatar Telecom German Open
The German Open, sponsored from 2006 through 2008 as the Qatar Telecom German Open, was a WTA Tour affiliated professional tennis tournament for women played in Berlin, Germany. Held since 1896, it was one of the oldest tournaments for women...
, where she lost to a rising Steffi Graf
Steffi Graf
Steffi Graf is a former World No. 1 German tennis player.In total, Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, second among male and female players only to Margaret Court's 24...
6–2, 6–3.
In women's doubles, Kohde-Kilsch won the 1985 US Open women's doubles championship with Helena Suková
Helena Suková
Helena Suková is a former professional tennis player from Czechia. During her career, she won 14 Grand Slam titles, 9 of them in women's doubles and 5 of them in mixed doubles...
and in 1987, partnering again with Suková, she won the 1987 Wimbledon women's doubles championship
1987 Wimbledon Championships
The 1987 Wimbledon Championships was a tennis tournament played on :grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon in London in England...
.
Between 1983 and 1987 Kohde-Kilsch and Suková, sometimes referred to as the "twin towers" for their height, paired to win 19 doubles tournaments. At the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
, she partnered with Steffi Graf
Steffi Graf
Steffi Graf is a former World No. 1 German tennis player.In total, Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, second among male and female players only to Margaret Court's 24...
in the doubles competition and together they were awarded the bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
in the event.
Kohde-Kilsch currently lives in Saarland
Saarland
Saarland is one of the sixteen states of Germany. The capital is Saarbrücken. It has an area of 2570 km² and 1,045,000 inhabitants. In both area and population, it is the smallest state in Germany other than the city-states...
with her husband, Chris Bennett, and their son, Fynn. The couple operate CeKay Music, a music publishing house and production company.
Women's doubles: 8 (2 titles, 6 runner-ups)
| Outcome | Year | Championship | Surface | Partner | Opponents in the final | Score in the final |
| Runner-up | 1982 | Australian Open Australian Open The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament held in the southern hemisphere. The tournament was held for the first time in 1905 and was last contested on grass in 1987. Since 1972 the Australian Open has been held in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1988, the tournament became a hard court... |
Grass |  Eva PfaffEva Pfaff Eva Pfaff is a former German tennis player.During her career she won 5 doubles WTA titles. Her peak world rankings in the sport were 17th in singles and 16th in doubles .... |
 Martina Navratilova Pam ShriverPam Shriver Pamela Howard Shriver Lazenby , is a former professional tennis player and is currently a sports broadcaster from the United States for ESPN2. During the 1980s and 1990s, she won 133 top-level titles, including 21 women's doubles titles and one mixed doubles title at Grand Slam tournaments... |
6–4, 6–2 |
| Runner-up | 1984 | French Open | Clay |  Hana MandlíkováHana Mandlíková Hana Mandlíková is a former Czech professional tennis player from Czechoslovakia and later Australia. During her career, she won four Grand Slam singles titles – two at the Australian Open, one at the French Open, and one at the US Open... |
Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver |
5–7, 6–3, 6–2 |
| Runner-up | 1984 | Australian Open | Grass | Helena Suková Helena Suková Helena Suková is a former professional tennis player from Czechia. During her career, she won 14 Grand Slam titles, 9 of them in women's doubles and 5 of them in mixed doubles... |
Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver |
6–3, 6–4 |
| Runner-up | 1985 | French Open | Clay | Helena Suková |
Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver |
4–6, 6–2, 6–2 |
| Winner | 1985 | US Open | Hard | Helena Suková |
Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver |
6–7(5), 6–2, 6–3 |
| Runner-up | 1985 | Australian Open | Grass | Helena Suková |
Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver |
6–3, 6–4 |
| Winner | 1987 | Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors... |
Grass | Helena Suková |
Betsy Nagelsen Betsy Nagelsen Betsy Nagelsen McCormack is a retired professional tennis player from the United States. Nagelsen won the doubles championship at the 1978 and 1980 Australian Opens . She reached the singles final of the 1978 Australian Open, losing to Christine O'Neil...  Elizabeth SmylieElizabeth Smylie Elizabeth Smylie is an Australian former tennis player.She won the Western Australian Sports Star of the Year award in 1985.She won the Comeback Player of the Year award in 1990 and 1993.... |
7–5, 7–5 |
| Runner-up | 1988 | French Open | Clay | Helena Suková |
Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver |
6–2, 7–5 |
Doubles: 4 finals (0 titles, 4 runner-ups)
| Outcome | Year | Location | Surface | Partner | Opponents in the final | Score in the final |
| Runner-up | 1985 | New York City New York City New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and... |
Carpet (i) | Helena Suková Helena Suková Helena Suková is a former professional tennis player from Czechia. During her career, she won 14 Grand Slam titles, 9 of them in women's doubles and 5 of them in mixed doubles... |
Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver Pam Shriver Pamela Howard Shriver Lazenby , is a former professional tennis player and is currently a sports broadcaster from the United States for ESPN2. During the 1980s and 1990s, she won 133 top-level titles, including 21 women's doubles titles and one mixed doubles title at Grand Slam tournaments... |
6–7(4), 6–4, 7–6(5) |
| Runner-up | 1986(1) | New York City | Carpet (i) | Helena Suková |
Hana Mandlíková Hana Mandlíková Hana Mandlíková is a former Czech professional tennis player from Czechoslovakia and later Australia. During her career, she won four Grand Slam singles titles – two at the Australian Open, one at the French Open, and one at the US Open... Wendy TurnbullWendy Turnbull Wendy Turnbull, MBE, is a retired Australian professional tennis player. During her career, she won 9 Grand Slam titles, 4 of them in women's doubles and 5 of them in mixed doubles. She also was a 3-time Grand Slam singles runner-up and won 13 singles titles and 55 doubles titles.-Career:Turnbull... |
6–4, 6–7(4), 6–3 |
| Runner-up | 1986(2) | New York City | Carpet (i) | Helena Suková |
Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver |
1–6, 6–1, 6–1 |
| Runner-up | 1987 | New York City | Carpet (i) | Helena Suková |
Martina Navratilova Pam Shriver |
6–1, 6–1 |
Singles (10)
|
|
| No. | Date | Location | Surface | Opponent in the final | Score in the final |
| 1. | 18 January 1981 | Toronto, Canada Toronto Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from... |
Carpet (I) |  Nina Bohm |
4–6, 6–2, 7–5 |
| 2. | 5 April 1981 | Boise, USA Boise, Idaho Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,... |
Carpet (I) | Ann Kiyomura Ann Kiyomura Ann Kiyomura-Hayashi is a former professional tennis player.Kiyomura played on the WTA Tour from 1973 to 1984. She played in 11 US Opens, reaching the fourth round in 1978. In 1975, she won the Wimbledon women's doubles title, playing with Kazuko Sawamatsu... |
7–6, 3–6, 6–4 |
| 3. | 12 July 1981 | Gstaad, Switzerland Gstaad Gstaad is a village in the German-speaking section of the Canton of Berne in southwestern Switzerland. Part of the municipality of Saanen, Gstaad is known as one of the most exclusive ski resorts in the world.... |
Clay |  Isabelle Villiger |
6–1, 4–6, 6–2 |
| 4. | 19 July 1981 | Kitzbühel, Austria WTA Austria The WTA Austrian Open is a WTA Tour affiliated tennis tournament held off and on from 1968. In the Open Era seven locations hosted the event: Pörtschach in 1968 and 1999; Kitzbühel from 1969 to 1977, from 1979 to 1983 and from 1990 to 1993; Vienna in 1978 and from 2001 to 2004; Bregenz from 1985 to... |
Clay |  Sylvia HanikaSylvia Hanika Sylvia Hanika is a former professional tennis player from Germany. She is best remembered for finishing runner-up at the French Open in 1981, and for winning the Avon Championships in 1982. She was ranked as high as No. 5 in the world and played left-handed.-Career:Hanika turned professional in 1977... |
7–5, 7–6 |
| 5. | 31 January 1982 | Pittsburgh, USA | Carpet (I) | Eva Pfaff Eva Pfaff Eva Pfaff is a former German tennis player.During her career she won 5 doubles WTA titles. Her peak world rankings in the sport were 17th in singles and 16th in doubles .... |
6–4, 6–0 |
| 6. | 21 March 1982 | Austin, USA | Carpet (i) | Helena Suková Helena Suková Helena Suková is a former professional tennis player from Czechia. During her career, she won 14 Grand Slam titles, 9 of them in women's doubles and 5 of them in mixed doubles... |
7–6, 0–6, 6–3 |
| 7. | 20 May 1984 | Berlin, West Germany | Clay | Kathleen Horvath Kathleen Horvath Erica Kathleen "Kathy" Horvath is a former professional tennis player.-Career:Horvath was the youngest player to win the U.S. National 16s in 1979. She also is the only player to ever win all four age groups in the U.S... |
7–6, 6–1 |
| 8. | 4 August 1985 | Manhattan Beach, USA | Hard | Pam Shriver Pam Shriver Pamela Howard Shriver Lazenby , is a former professional tennis player and is currently a sports broadcaster from the United States for ESPN2. During the 1980s and 1990s, she won 133 top-level titles, including 21 women's doubles titles and one mixed doubles title at Grand Slam tournaments... |
6–2, 6–4 |
| 9. | 12 June 1988 | Birmingham, UK | Grass | Pam Shriver |
6–2, 6–1 |
| 10. | 16 September 1990 | Kitzbühel, Austria | Clay | Rachel McQuillan Rachel McQuillan Rachel McQuillan is a retired professional tennis player from Australia. She won 5 WTA Tour doubles titles, as well as 14 singles and 21 doubles titles on the ITF Women's Circuit. She reached the mixed doubles semifinals at the 1995 and 1998 French Opens and at the 1996 US Open, each time... |
7–6, 6–4 |
Doubles (26)
Grand slam events in boldface.- 1980: Kitzbühel (with Eva PfaffEva PfaffEva Pfaff is a former German tennis player.During her career she won 5 doubles WTA titles. Her peak world rankings in the sport were 17th in singles and 16th in doubles ....
) - 1981: Gstaad (with Heidi Eisterlehner)
- 1981: Kitzbühel (with Eva Pfaff)
- 1983: Oakland (with Eva Pfaff)
- 1983: Hamburg (with Bettina BungeBettina BungeBettina Bunge is a retired German tennis player. She was born in Adliswil, Switzerland. She was part of a large group of successful German players in the 1980s, which also included Steffi Graf, Claudia Kohde-Kilsch, Sylvia Hanika, and Eva Pfaff.-Career:With German nationality as the daughter of a...
) - 1984: Hilton Head (with Hana MandlíkováHana MandlíkováHana Mandlíková is a former Czech professional tennis player from Czechoslovakia and later Australia. During her career, she won four Grand Slam singles titles – two at the Australian Open, one at the French Open, and one at the US Open...
) - 1984: Orlando (with Hana Mandlíková)
- 1984: Filderstadt (with Helena SukováHelena SukováHelena Suková is a former professional tennis player from Czechia. During her career, she won 14 Grand Slam titles, 9 of them in women's doubles and 5 of them in mixed doubles...
) - 1984: Sydney (with Helena Suková)
- 1984: Tokyo Pan Pacific (with Helena Suková)
- 1985: Berlin (with Helena Suková)
- 1985: Los Angeles (with Helena Suková)
- 1985: US Open (with Helena Suková)
- 1985: Tokyo Pan Pacific (with Helena Suková)
- 1986: Dallas (with Helena Suková)
- 1986: Amelia Island (with Helena Suková)
- 1996: Chicago (with Helena Suková)
- 1987: Tokyo Bridgestone Doubles (with Helena Suková)
- 1987: Berlin (with Helena Suková)
- 1987: Wimbledon (with Helena Suková)
- 1987: Hamburg (with Jana NovotnáJana NovotnáJana Novotná is a former professional tennis player from the Czech Republic. She played a serve and volley game, an increasingly rare style of play among women during her career. She won the women's singles title at Wimbledon in 1998 and was runner-up in three previous Grand Slam tournaments...
) - 1987: Chicago (with Helena Suková)
- 1988: Adelaide (with Sylvia HanikaSylvia HanikaSylvia Hanika is a former professional tennis player from Germany. She is best remembered for finishing runner-up at the French Open in 1981, and for winning the Avon Championships in 1982. She was ranked as high as No. 5 in the world and played left-handed.-Career:Hanika turned professional in 1977...
) - 1991: Oslo (with Silke MeierSilke MeierSilke Meier is a former professional tennis player . She was born on July 13, 1968 in Wiesbaden, West Germany and played on the WTA tour from 1985 to 1999. She reached the 3rd round of the US Open in 1990 and, over her career, recorded victories against Jana Novotná, Helena Suková and Manuela...
) - 1991: Hilton Head (with Natasha ZverevaNatasha ZverevaNatalya "Natasha" Zvereva, or Zverava is a former tennis player from Belarus. Zvereva was the first major athlete in the Soviet Union to demand publicly that she should be able to keep her tournament earnings...
) - 1992: Indian Wells (with Stephanie ReheStephanie ReheStephanie Rehe is a retired American professional tennis player.A successful amateur player, Rehe was ranked No. 1 in every age group as a junior . She was the first player to receive a dual No...
)
Singles runner-ups (8)
- 1984: Hilton Head (lost to Chris EvertChris EvertChristine Marie "Chris" Evert is a former world number 1 professional tennis player from the United States. She won 18 Grand Slam singles championships, including a record seven championships at the French Open and a record six championships at the U.S. Open. She was the year-ending World No...
) - 1984: Zurich (lost to Zina GarrisonZina GarrisonZina Lynna Garrison is a former professional tennis player from the United States. During her career, she was a women's singles runner-up at Wimbledon in 1990, a three-time Grand Slam mixed doubles champion, and a women's doubles gold medalist at the 1988 Olympic Games.-Career:An African-American...
) - 1984: Tokyo Pan Pacific (lost to Manuela MaleevaManuela MaleevaManuela Georgieva Maleeva-Fragniere is a Bulgarian former professional tennis player. She played on the Women's Tennis Association tour between 1982 and 1994...
) - 1985: Toronto (lost to Chris Evert)
- 1986: Worcester (lost to Martina Navratilova)
- 1986: Marco Island (lost to Chris Evert)
- 1986: Amelia Island (lost to Steffi GrafSteffi GrafSteffi Graf is a former World No. 1 German tennis player.In total, Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, second among male and female players only to Margaret Court's 24...
) - 1987: Berlin (lost to Steffi Graf)
Grand Slam singles performance timeline
| Tournament | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | Career SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Open Australian Open The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament held in the southern hemisphere. The tournament was held for the first time in 1905 and was last contested on grass in 1987. Since 1972 the Australian Open has been held in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1988, the tournament became a hard court... |
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 |
- A = did not participate in the tournament.
- NH = tournament not held.
- SR = the ratio of the number of Grand Slam singles tournaments won to the number of those tournaments played.