Ken Fletcher facts for kids
Ken Fletcher at tournament in Santpoort, Netherlands (1965)
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| Full name | Kenneth Norman Fletcher |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |  Australia |
| Born | 15 June 1940 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Died | 11 February 2006 (aged 65) Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Turned pro | 1968 (amateur from 1958) |
| Retired | 1973 |
| Plays | Right-handed (1-handed backhand) |
| Singles | |
| Highest ranking | No. 10 (1966, Lance Tingay) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | F (1963) |
| French Open | QF (1963, 1966) |
| Wimbledon | QF (1962, 1966, 1967) |
| US Open | 3R (1963) |
| Doubles | |
| Highest ranking | No. 1 (1964) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | F (1963, 1964) |
| French Open | W (1964) |
| Wimbledon | W (1966) |
| Mixed doubles | |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| Australian Open | W (1963, 1964) |
| French Open | W (1963, 1964, 1965) |
| Wimbledon | W (1963, 1965, 1966, 1968) |
| US Open | W (1963) |
Kenneth Norman Fletcher (born June 15, 1940 – died February 11, 2006) was a famous Australian tennis player. He was known for winning many major titles in doubles and mixed doubles, especially in the Grand Slam tournaments.
Contents
Ken Fletcher's Tennis Journey
Ken Fletcher was born in Brisbane, Australia. He showed great talent for tennis from a young age. His biggest success in tennis came in 1963. That year, he made history by winning a "calendar year Grand Slam" in mixed doubles. This means he won all four major tennis tournaments in the same year! He achieved this amazing feat with his partner, fellow Australian tennis legend Margaret Court.
Grand Slam Mixed Doubles Success
In 1963, Ken and Margaret won the mixed doubles titles at the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Championships. This made them the only mixed doubles team to achieve a calendar Grand Slam.
After this incredible year, Ken continued to win more mixed doubles titles with Margaret Court. They won the Australian Open again in 1964. They also won the French Open in 1964 and 1965. At Wimbledon, they were champions in 1965, 1966, and 1968. In total, Ken Fletcher won 10 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles.
Men's Doubles Achievements
Ken also had great success in men's doubles. In 1964, he won the French Open men's doubles title with his partner Roy Emerson. He also reached the finals of the Wimbledon men's doubles championship several times. He was a finalist with Robert Hewitt in 1965. In 1966, he became the Wimbledon champion with John Newcombe. He was a finalist again in 1967 with Roy Emerson.
Overall, Ken Fletcher won 27 international tennis titles during his career. In 1966, he was ranked as the World No. 10 tennis player by Lance Tingay of The Daily Telegraph.
Life Beyond the Court
Ken Fletcher was known for his fun-loving and adventurous personality. Many stories about him are shared in books by Australian author Hugh Lunn, including Over the Top with Jim and Head Over Heels. In 2008, Hugh Lunn even wrote a whole book about Ken's life called The Great Fletch.
Later in his life, Ken played an important role in helping to get a lot of money for medical research in Australia. He worked with a generous businessman named Chuck Feeney to make this happen.
Legacy and Recognition
Ken Fletcher passed away from cancer at the age of 65 in Brisbane. He was buried at the Mount Gravatt Lawn Cemetery.
In January 2012, Ken Fletcher was honored by being added to the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame. A year later, in 2013, a memorial was built for him in a park outside the Queensland Tennis Centre. This park was also named in his honor. It's interesting to note that Ken Fletcher is the only tennis player in history to win a mixed doubles Grand Slam (in 1963) who is not yet in the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
See also
In Spanish: Ken Fletcher para niños
