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.

Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Country (sports) Germany[1]
Born (1963-12-11) 11 December 1963 (age 61)
Saarbrücken, West Germany
Height1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Turned pro1980
Retired1994
PlaysRight-handed (one handed-backhand)
Prize money$2,227,116
Singles
Career record408–224
Career titles8
Highest rankingNo. 4 (2 September 1985)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian OpenSF (1985, 1987, 1988)
French OpenSF (1985)
WimbledonQF (1987)
US OpenQF (1985, 1987)
Other tournaments
Olympic Games2R (1988)
Doubles
Career record438–175
Career titles25
Highest rankingNo. 3 (17 August 1987)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian OpenF (1982, 1984, 1985)
French OpenF (1984, 1985, 1988)
WimbledonW (1987)
US OpenW (1985)
Other doubles tournaments
Tour FinalsF (1983, 1985, 1986(Mar), 1986(Nov), 1987)
Olympic GamesSF (1988)
Team competitions
Fed Cup28–12
Medal record
Olympic Games
Representing  West Germany
Bronze medal – third place 1988 Seoul Doubles

Personal life

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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.

Pro tennis career

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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

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Doubles: 8 (2 titles, 6 runner-ups)

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Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponent Score
Loss 1982 Australian Open Grass   Eva Pfaff   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
4–6, 2–6
Loss 1984 French Open Clay   Hana Mandlíková   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
7–5, 3–6, 2–6
Loss 1984 Australian Open Grass   Helena Suková   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
3–6, 4–6
Loss 1985 French Open Clay   Helena Suková   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
6–4, 2–6, 2–6
Win 1985 US Open Hard   Helena Suková   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
6–7(5–7), 6–2, 6–3
Loss 1985 Australian Open Grass   Helena Suková   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
3–6, 4–6
Win 1987 Wimbledon Grass   Helena Suková   Betsy Nagelsen
  Elizabeth Smylie
7–5, 7–5
Loss 1988 French Open Clay   Helena Suková   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
2–6, 5–7

Olympic Games

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Doubles: 1 (bronze)

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Result Year Location Surface Partner Opponents Score
Bronze 1988 Seoul Hard   Steffi Graf 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.

Other significant finals

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Year-end championships

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Doubles: 5 (runner-ups)

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Result Year Championship Surface Partner Opponent Score
Loss 1983 New York Carpet (i)   Eva Pfaff   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
5–7, 2–6
Loss 1985 New York Carpet (i)   Helena Suková   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
7–6(7–4), 4–6, 6–7(5–7)
Loss 1986(Mar) New York Carpet (i)   Helena Suková   Hana Mandlíková
  Wendy Turnbull
4–6, 7–6(7–4), 3–6
Loss 1986(Nov) New York Carpet (i)   Helena Suková   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
6–7(1–7), 3–6
Loss 1987 New York Carpet (i)   Helena Suková   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
1–6, 1–6

WTA Tour finals

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Singles: 16 (8–8)

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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)
Result No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Win 1. Jan 1981 Toronto, Canada Carpet (i)   Nina Bohm 4–6, 6–2, 7–5
Win 2. Jul 1981 Kitzbühel, Austria Clay   Sylvia Hanika 7–5, 7–6
Win 3. Jan 1982 Pittsburgh, US Carpet (i)   Eva Pfaff 6–4, 6–0
Win 4. Mar 1982 Austin, US Carpet (i)   Helena Suková 7–6(7–0), 0–6, 6–3
Loss 1. Apr 1984 Hilton Head, US Clay   Chris Evert-Lloyd 2–6, 3–6
Win 5. May 1984 Berlin West Germany Clay   Kathleen Horvath 7–6(10–8), 6–1
Loss 2. Oct 1984 Zürich, Switzerland Carpet (i)   Zina Garrison 1–6, 6–0, 2–6
Loss 3. Dec 1984 Tokyo, Japan Carpet (i)   Manuela Maleeva 6–3, 4–6, 4–6
Win 6. Jul 1985 Los Angeles, US Hard   Pam Shriver 6–2, 6–4
Loss 4. Aug 1985 Toronto, Canada Hard   Chris Evert-Lloyd 2–6, 4–6
Loss 5. Jan 1986 Worcester, UK Carpet (i)   Martina Navratilova 6–4, 1–6, 4–6
Loss 6. Mar 1986 Marco Island, US Clay   Chris Evert-Lloyd 4–6, 2–6
Loss 7. Apr 1986 Amelia Island, US Clay   Steffi Graf 4–6, 7–5, 6–7(3–7)
Loss 8. May 1987 Berlin, West Germany Clay   Steffi Graf 2–6, 3–6
Win 7. Jun 1988 Birmingham, UK Grass   Pam Shriver 6–1, 6–2
Win 8. Sept 1990 Kitzbühel, Austria Clay   Rachel McQuillan 7–6(7–5), 6–4

Doubles: 64 (25–39)

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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)
Result No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1. Jul 1980 Kitzbühel Clay   Eva Pfaff   Hana Mandlíková
  Renáta Tomanová
w/o
Win 2. Jul 1981 Kitzbühel Hard   Eva Pfaff   Elizabeth Little
  Yvonne Vermaak
6–4, 6–3
Loss 1. May 1982 Berlin Clay   Bettina Bunge   Liz Gordon
  Beverly Mould
3–6, 4–6
Loss 2. Nov 1982 Brisbane Grass   Eva Pfaff   Billie Jean King
  Anne Smith
3–6, 4–6
Loss 3. Nov 1982 Sydney Grass   Eva Pfaff   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
3–6, 6–2, 6–7
Loss 4. Nov 1982 Australian Open Grass   Eva Pfaff   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
4–6, 2–6
Win 3. Feb 1983 Oakland Carpet (i)   Eva Pfaff   Rosie Casals
  Wendy Turnbull
6–4, 4–6, 6–4
Loss 5. Mar 1983 Virginia Slims Championships Carpet (i)   Eva Pfaff   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
5–7, 2–6
Loss 6. May 1983 Berlin Clay   Eva Pfaff   Jo Durie
  Anne Hobbs
4–6, 6–7(2–7)
Win 4. Jul 1983 Hittfeld Clay   Bettina Bunge   Ivanna Madruga
  Catherine Tanvier
7–5, 6–4
Win 5. Apr 1984 Hilton Head Clay   Hana Mandlíková   Anne Hobbs
  Sharon Walsh
7–5, 6–2
Win 6. Apr 1984 Orlando Clay   Hana Mandlíková   Anne Hobbs
  Wendy Turnbull
6–0, 1–6, 6–3
Loss 7. May 1984 French Open Clay   Hana Mandlíková   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
7–5, 3–6, 2–6
Loss 8. Aug 1984 Montreal Hard   Hana Mandlíková   Kathy Jordan
  Elizabeth Sayers
1–6, 2–6
Win 7. Oct 1984 Filderstadt Carpet (i)   Helena Suková   Bettina Bunge
  Eva Pfaff
6–2, 4–6, 6–3
Loss 9. Oct 1984 Zürich Carpet (i)   Hana Mandlíková   Andrea Leand
  Andrea Temesvári
1–6, 3–6
Win 8. Nov 1984 Sydney Grass   Helena Suková   Wendy Turnbull
  Sharon Walsh
6–2, 7–6(7–4)
Loss 10. Nov 1984 Australian Open Grass   Helena Suková   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
3–6, 4–6
Win 9. Dec 1984 Tokyo Carpet (i)   Helena Suková   Elizabeth Smylie
  Catherine Tanvier
6–4, 6–4
Loss 11. Jan 1985 Washington Carpet (i)   Helena Suková   Gigi Fernández
  Martina Navratilova
3–6, 6–3, 3–6
Loss 12. Mar 1985 Virginia Slims Championships Carpet (i)   Helena Suková   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
7–6(7–4), 4–6, 6–7(5–7)
Win 10. May 1985 Berlin Clay   Helena Suková   Steffi Graf
  Catherine Tanvier
6–4, 6–1
Loss 13. May 1985 French Open Clay   Helena Suková   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
6–4, 2–6, 2–6
Win 11. Jul 1985 Los Angeles Hard   Helena Suková   Hana Mandlíková
  Wendy Turnbull
6–4, 6–2
Loss 14. Aug 1985 Mahwah Hard   Helena Suková   Kathy Jordan
  Elizabeth Smylie
6–7(6–8), 3–6
Win 12. Aug 1985 US Open Hard   Helena Suková   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
6–7(5–7), 6–2, 6–3
Loss 15. Oct 1985 Zürich Carpet (i)   Helena Suková   Hana Mandlíková
  Andrea Temesvári
4–6, 6–3, 5–7
Loss 16. Nov 1985 Brisbane Grass   Helena Suková   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
4–6, 7–6(8–6), 1–6
Loss 17. Nov 1985 Australian Open Grass   Helena Suková   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
3–6, 4–6
Win 13. Dec 1985 Tokyo Carpet (i)   Helena Suková   Marcella Mesker
  Elizabeth Smylie
6–0, 6–4
Loss 18. Jan 1986 Washington Carpet (i)   Helena Suková   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
3–6, 4–6
Loss 19. Jan 1986 Worcester Carpet (i)   Helena Suková   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
3–6, 1–6
Win 14. Mar 1986 Dallas Carpet (i)   Helena Suková   Hana Mandlíková
  Wendy Turnbull
4–6, 7–5, 6–4
Loss 20. Mar 1986 Virginia Slims Championship Carpet (i)   Helena Suková   Hana Mandlíková
  Wendy Turnbull
4–6, 7–6(7–4), 3–6
Win 15. Apr 1986 Amelia Island Clay   Helena Suková   Gabriela Sabatini
  Catherine Tanvier
6–2, 5–7, 7–6(9–7)
Loss 21. Jun 1986 Eastbourne Grass   Helena Suková   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
2–6, 4–6
Loss 22. Aug 1986 Los Angeles Hard   Helena Suková   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
4–6, 3–6
Loss 23. Nov 1986 Worcester Carpet (i)   Helena Suková   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
5–7, 3–6
Win 16. Nov 1986 Chicago Clay   Helena Suková   Steffi Graf
  Gabriela Sabatini
6–7(5–7), 7–6(7–5), 6–3
Loss 24. Nov 1986 Virginia Slims Championship Carpet (i)   Helena Suková   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
6–7(1–7), 3–6
Win 17. Jan 1987 Tokyo Carpet (i)   Helena Suková   Elise Burgin
  Pam Shriver
6–1, 7–6(7–5)
Loss 25. Feb 1987 Key Biscayne Hard   Helena Suková   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
3–6, 6–7(6–8)
Loss 26. Feb 1987 Rome Clay   Helena Suková   Martina Navratilova
  Gabriela Sabatini
4–6, 1–6
Win 18. May 1987 Berlin Clay   Helena Suková   Catarina Lindqvist
  Tine Scheuer-Larsen
6–1, 6–2
Win 19. Jun 1987 Wimbledon Grass   Helena Suková   Betsy Nagelsen
  Elizabeth Smylie
7–5, 7–5
Loss 27. Aug 1987 Toronto Hard   Helena Suková   Zina Garrison
  Lori McNeil
1–6, 2–6
Win 20. Sep 1987 Hamburg Clay   Jana Novotná   Natalia Bykova
  Leila Meskhi
7–6(7–1), 7–6(8–6)
Win 21. Nov 1987 Chicago Carpet (i)   Helena Suková   Zina Garrison
  Lori McNeil
6–4, 6–3
Loss 28. Nov 1987 Virginia Slims Championship Carpet (i)   Helena Suková   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
1–6, 1–6
Loss 29. Dec 1987 Brisbane Grass   Helena Suková   Betsy Nagelsen
  Pam Shriver
6–2, 5–7, 2–6
Loss 30. Jan 1988 Sydney Grass   Helena Suková   Ann Henricksson
  Christiane Jolissaint
6–7(5–7), 6–4, 3–6
Loss 31. Mar 1988 Boca Raton Hard   Helena Suková   Katrina Adams
  Zina Garrison
6–4, 5–7, 4–6
Loss 32. Apr 1988 Hilton Head Clay   Gabriela Sabatini   Lori McNeil
  Martina Navratilova
2–6, 6–2, 3–6
Loss 33. May 1988 Berlin Clay   Helena Suková   Isabelle Demongeot
  Nathalie Tauziat
2–6, 6–4, 4–6
Loss 34. May 1988 French Open Clay   Helena Suková   Martina Navratilova
  Pam Shriver
2–6, 5–7
Loss 35. Oct 1988 Zürich Carpet (i)   Helena Suková   Isabelle Demongeot
  Nathalie Tauziat
3–6, 3–6
Win 22. Nov 1988 Adelaide Hard   Sylvia Hanika   Jana Novotná
  Lori McNeil
7–5, 6–7(4–7), 6–4
Loss 36. Jan 1989 Tokyo Carpet (i)   Mary Joe Fernández   Katrina Adams
  Zina Garrison
3–6, 6–3, 6–7(5–7)
Loss 37. Aug 1989 Los Angeles Hard   Mary Joe Fernández   Martina Navratilova
  Wendy Turnbull
2–5 ret.
Win 23. Feb 1991 Oslo Carpet (i)   Silke Meier   Sabine Appelmans
  Raffaella Reggi
3–6, 6–2, 6–4
Win 24. Apr 1991 Hilton Head Clay   Natasha Zvereva   Mary-Lou Daniels
  Lise Gregory
6–4, 6–0
Loss 38. Aug 1991 Toronto Hard   Helena Suková   Larisa Savchenko
  Natasha Zvereva
6–1, 5–7, 2–6
Win 25. Feb 1992 Indian Wells Hard   Stephanie Rehe   Jill Hetherington
  Kathy Rinaldi
6–3, 6–3
Loss 39. Sep 1992 Bayonne Carpet (i)   Stephanie Rehe   Linda Ferrando
  Petra Langrová
6–1, 3–6, 4–6

Performance timelines

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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.

Singles

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Tournament 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 SR W–L
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open 1R 1R 3R 3R 3R SF NH SF SF QF 1R 1R 2R 0 / 12 24–12
French Open 1R 1R 2R 3R 4R SF 4R QF 3R 1R 2R 2R 1R 0 / 13 21–13
Wimbledon A 2R 4R 4R 4R 2R 3R QF A 3R 3R 3R 2R 0 / 11 24–11
US Open A 1R 3R 2R 4R QF 4R QF 3R 1R A 1R A 0 / 10 19–10
Win–loss 0–2 1–4 7–4 8–4 11–4 14–4 8–3 16–4 9–3 6–4 3–3 3–4 3–3 0 / 46 88–46
Year-end championships
WTA Championships did not qualify 1R QF QF 1R 1R did not qualify 0 / 5 2–5
Career statistics
Year-end ranking 78 20 19 22 8 5 7 10 12 36 46 78 79

Doubles

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Tournament 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 SR W–L
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open QF 1R F 1R F F NH SF A 3R A 1R 3R 0 / 10 21–9
French Open 1R SF QF QF F F SF SF F 1R QF 3R 1R 0 / 13 37–13
Wimbledon A 1R SF QF QF SF 2R W A 3R 2R 3R 3R 1 / 11 26–10
US Open A QF SF A 3R W QF QF 3R A A QF A 1 / 8 26–7
Win–loss 2–2 7–4 13–4 5–2 14–4 19–3 8–3 16–3 7–2 4–3 4–2 7–4 4–3 2 / 42 110–39
Year-end championships
WTA Championships did not qualify F DNQ F F F F SF did not qualify 0 / 6 11–6
Career statistics
Year-end ranking no rankings 5 4 3 3 8 37 52 24 25

References

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  1. ^ before German reunification, she played for West Germany
  2. ^ "Lafontaine: Claudia Kohde-Kilsch wird seine Sprecherin". Augsburger Allgemeine (in German). 30 April 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
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