SIUE Athletics Hall of Fame tennis legend Ken Flach dies at age 54

Eric Hess

Mar 13, 2018 1:50 PM

Listen to the story

EDWARDSVILLE – Ken Flach, a 2008 inductee to the SIUE Athletics Hall of Fame, has died at age 54.

Get The Latest News!

Don't miss our top stories and need-to-know news everyday in your inbox.

According to ubitennis.net, Flach died due to complications with bronchitis and pneumonia.

"SIUE Athletics is mourning the loss of one of its finest former tennis players," said SIUE Director of Athletics Dr. Brad Hewitt. "Ken Flach was a tremendous individual and doubles player at SIUE and was responsible for bringing great recognition to the tennis program."

Flach, who came to SIUE from Kirkwood High School in St. Louis, captured three consecutive individual NCAA Division II singles titles from 1981 to 1983. As a teammate, he won two NCAA Division II doubles titles in 1982 and 1983 with different partners and advanced to the finals with a third different partner in 1981.

Article continues after sponsor message

Learn about our advertising opportunities!

50% Off Multi-Sport Simulator Rental & More at Tee Shots Unlimited

Shop Local

Tee Shots

Get This Deal →

After leaving SIUE, he joined SIUE teammate Robert Seguso to capture four Grand Slam titles professionally with two at Wimbledon (1987 and 1988) and two at the U.S. Open (1985 and 1993). He also won a mixed doubles Grand Slam at the French Open and Wimbledon. Flach was inducted into the St. Louis Tennis Hall of Fame in 1998.

Flach and Seguso, who represented the United States in Davis Cup play from 1985 to 1991, also won a gold medal at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea.

Paul Annacone said in a post about Flach's death: "Sometimes we get sobering reminders of the fragility of life and what we have each day. Tennis lost a family member and more importantly, children lost a father a wife lost a husband, and siblings lost a brother. Thank you, Ken, for your friendship memories will last forever. RIP Ken Flach."

Pam Shriver said the social media posts the past five days from Ken's loving family have "given us all a chance to pray, reflect, and hope for the best."

"I am so very sad," Shriver said. "Olympic flat mates in Seoul both winning doubles gold. Now, Ken joins Jana, Seoul silver medalist in tennis, in heaven."Dan Brannan also contributed to this story.

Prefer RiverBender on Google