Peter Fleming (tennis)

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Peter Fleming
Fleming and Guy Forget, Wimbledon 2010
Full namePeter Blair Fleming
Country (sports) United States
ResidenceGlen Cove, New York, US
Born (1955-01-21) January 21, 1955 (age 69)
Chatham Borough, New Jersey, US
Height6 ft 5 (1.96 m)
Turned pro1976
Retired1988
PlaysRight-handed (one-handed backhand)
Prize money$1,986,799
Singles
Career record224–213
Career titles3
Highest rankingNo. 8 (July 7, 1980)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open3R (1983)
French Open2R (1977, 1980)
WimbledonQF (1980)
US Open3R (1978)
Doubles
Career record507–177
Career titles60
Highest rankingNo. 1 (June 11, 1984)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open3R (1983)
French OpenSF (1987)
WimbledonW (1979, 1981, 1983, 1984)
US OpenW (1979, 1981, 1983)
Other doubles tournaments
Tour FinalsW (1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984)
Mixed doubles
Career record6–5
Career titles0
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Wimbledon3R (1987)
US OpenF (1986)

Peter Blair Fleming (born January 21, 1955, in Chatham Borough, New Jersey) is an American former professional tennis player. In his doubles partnership with John McEnroe, he won 52 titles, of which seven were at Grand Slams (four at Wimbledon, three at the US Open). As a singles player, he peaked at world No. 8, winning three titles (including the 1979 Cincinnati Open).

Tennis career[edit]

Fleming attended Chatham High School, where he won the New Jersey high school individual championship in 1972, during his junior year.[1] He won the men's singles in the Ojai Tennis Tournament in 1975.[2]

During the 1980s, Fleming teamed up with fellow American John McEnroe to dominate the men's doubles game. The duo won 52 doubles titles together, including four at Wimbledon (1979, 1981, 1983 and 1984), and three at the US Open (1979, 1981 and 1983). Fleming once said that "The best doubles pair in the world is John McEnroe and anyone".[3]

Fleming also played on three American Davis Cup winning teams (1979, 1981 and 1982), and helped the US win the World Team Cup twice (1984 and 1985). Fleming reached the World No. 1 doubles ranking in 1984. His career-high singles ranking was world No. 8 in 1980, the year in which he reached the quarter-finals at the Wimbledon championships. Over the course of his career Fleming won three top-level singles titles and sixty doubles titles. Prior to turning professional, Fleming played tennis for the University of California, Los Angeles (after transferring from the University of Michigan), and won the National Collegiate Athletic Association doubles title in 1976.

Since retiring as a player, Fleming has become a tennis commentator for Sky Sports, Eurosport and the BBC.

Fleming is a keen golfer (handicap 10) and is an active member of The Stage Golf Society.

He was inducted into the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Hall of Fame.[4] On July 30, 2011, Fleming, the Farmers Classic 1979 singles and 1983 doubles champion, was named 2011 Farmers Classic Tournament Honoree.[5]

Fleming's Wimbledon medals, as recorded by the Portable Antiquities Scheme

In 2020 five of Fleming's Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships Medals, dating from 1978 to 2002, were found in London and reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme.

WCT, Grand Prix, and Grand Slam finals[edit]

Doubles (60 wins, 21 losses)[edit]

Result No. Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 1. 1976 La Costa, U.S. Hard United States Gene Mayer United States Marty Riessen
United States Roscoe Tanner
6–7, 6–7
Loss 2. 1977 Columbus, U.S. Clay United States Gene Mayer United States Robert Lutz
United States Stan Smith
6–4, 5–7, 2–6
Loss 3. 1977 Laguna Niguel, U.S. Hard United States Trey Waltke United States James Chico Hagey
United States Billy Martin
3–6, 4–6
Loss 4. 1977 Johannesburg WCT, South Africa Hard South Africa Raymond Moore United States Marty Riessen
United States Roscoe Tanner
6–7, 6–7
Win 1. 1978 Monte Carlo WCT, Monaco Clay Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd Chile Jaime Fillol
Romania Ilie Năstase
6–4, 7–5
Loss 5. 1978 Wimbledon, London Grass United States John McEnroe South Africa Bob Hewitt
South Africa Frew McMillan
1–6, 4–6, 2–6
Win 2. 1978 South Orange, U.S. Clay United States John McEnroe Romania Ion Țiriac
Argentina Guillermo Vilas
6–3, 6–3
Win 3. 1978 San Francisco, U.S. Carpet United States John McEnroe United States Robert Lutz
United States Stan Smith
5–7, 6–4, 6–4
Loss 6. 1978 Maui, U.S. Hard United States John McEnroe United States Tim Gullikson
United States Tom Gullikson
6–7, 6–7
Win 4. 1978 Cologne, West Germany Hard (i) United States John McEnroe South Africa Bob Hewitt
South Africa Frew McMillan
6–3, 6–2
Win 5. 1978 Bologna, Italy Carpet United States John McEnroe France Jean-Louis Haillet
Italy Antonio Zugarelli
6–1, 6–4
Win 6. 1978 Johannesburg, South Africa Hard South Africa Raymond Moore South Africa Bob Hewitt
South Africa Frew McMillan
6–3, 7–6
Win 7. 1979 World Doubles WCT, London Carpet United States John McEnroe Romania Ilie Năstase
United States Sherwood Stewart
3–6, 6–2, 6–3, 6–1
Loss 7. 1979 Philadelphia, U.S. Carpet United States John McEnroe Poland Wojtek Fibak
Netherlands Tom Okker
7–5, 1–6, 3–6
Win 8. 1979 New Orleans, U.S. Carpet United States John McEnroe United States Robert Lutz
United States Stan Smith
6–1, 6–3
Win 9. 1979 Milan, Italy Carpet United States John McEnroe Argentina José Luis Clerc
Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd
6–1, 6–3
Win 10. 1979 Rotterdam, Netherlands Carpet United States John McEnroe Switzerland Heinz Günthardt
South Africa Bernard Mitton
6–4, 6–4
Win 11. 1979 San Jose, U.S. Carpet United States John McEnroe United States Hank Pfister
United States Brad Rowe
6–3, 6–4
Win 12. 1979 Rome, Italy Carpet Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd Argentina José Luis Clerc
Romania Ilie Năstase
4–6, 6–1, 7–5
Win 13. 1979 Wimbledon, London Grass United States John McEnroe United States Brian Gottfried
Mexico Raúl Ramírez
4–6, 6–4, 6–2, 6–2
Win 14. 1979 Forest Hills WCT, U.S. Clay United States John McEnroe United States Gene Mayer
United States Sandy Mayer
6–7, 7–6, 6–3
Win 15. 1979 South Orange, U.S. Clay United States John McEnroe United States Fritz Buehning
United States Bruce Nichols
6–1, 6–3
Win 16. 1979 Toronto, Canada Hard United States John McEnroe Switzerland Heinz Günthardt
South Africa Bob Hewitt
6–7, 7–6, 6–1
Win 17. 1979 US Open, New York City Hard United States John McEnroe United States Robert Lutz
United States Stan Smith
6–2, 6–4
Win 18. 1979 San Francisco, U.S. Carpet United States John McEnroe Poland Wojtek Fibak
South Africa Frew McMillan
6–1, 6–4
Win 19. 1979 Stockholm, Sweden Hard (i) United States John McEnroe Poland Wojtek Fibak
Netherlands Tom Okker
6–4, 6–4
Win 20. 1979 Wembley, England Carpet United States John McEnroe Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd
United States Stan Smith
6–2, 6–3
Win 21. 1979 Bologna, Italy Carpet United States John McEnroe United States Fritz Buehning
United States Ferdi Taygan
6–1, 6–1
Win 22. 1980 Philadelphia, U.S. Carpet United States John McEnroe United States Brian Gottfried
Mexico Raúl Ramírez
6–3, 7–6
Win 23. 1980 Milan, Italy Carpet United States John McEnroe Rhodesia Andrew Pattison
United States Butch Walts
6–2, 6–7, 6–2
Win 24. 1980 Forest Hills WCT, U.S. Clay United States John McEnroe Australia Peter McNamara
Australia Paul McNamee
6–2, 5–7, 6–2
Loss 8. 1980 Columbus, U.S. Hard United States Eliot Teltscher United States Brian Gottfried
United States Sandy Mayer
4–6, 2–6
Loss 9. 1980 US Open, New York City Hard United States John McEnroe United States Robert Lutz
United States Stan Smith
6–7, 6–3, 1–6, 6–3, 3–6
Win 25. 1980 San Francisco, U.S. Carpet United States John McEnroe United States Gene Mayer
United States Sandy Mayer
6–1, 6–4
Win 26. 1980 Maui, U.S. Hard United States John McEnroe United States Victor Amaya
United States Hank Pfister
7–6, 6–7, 6–2
Win 27. 1980 Sydney Indoor, Australia Hard (i) United States John McEnroe United States Tim Gullikson
South Africa Johan Kriek
4–6, 6–1, 6–2
Win 28. 1980 Hong Kong Hard United States Ferdi Taygan United States Bruce Manson
United States Brian Teacher
7–5, 6–2
Win 29. 1980 Wembley, England Carpet United States John McEnroe United States Bill Scanlon
United States Eliot Teltscher
7–5, 6–3
Win 30. 1981 Las Vegas, U.S. Hard United States John McEnroe United States Tracy Delatte
United States Trey Waltke
6–3, 7–6
Win 31. 1981 Forest Hills WCT, U.S. Clay United States John McEnroe Australia John Fitzgerald
United States Andy Kohlberg
6–4, 6–4
Win 32. 1981 Wimbledon, London Grass United States John McEnroe United States Robert Lutz
United States Stan Smith
6–4, 6–4, 6–4
Loss 10. 1981 Montreal, Canada Hard United States John McEnroe Mexico Raúl Ramírez
United States Ferdi Taygan
6–2, 6–7, 4–6
Win 33. 1981 Atlanta, U.S. Hard United States Fritz Buehning United States Sammy Giammalva Jr.
United States Tony Giammalva
6–4, 4–6, 6–3
Win 34. 1981 US Open, New York City Hard United States John McEnroe Switzerland Heinz Günthardt
Australia Peter McNamara
DEF
Win 35. 1981 San Francisco, U.S. Carpet United States John McEnroe Australia Mark Edmondson
United States Sherwood Stewart
7–6, 6–4
Win 36. 1981 Sydney Indoor, Australia Hard (i) United States John McEnroe United States Sherwood Stewart
United States Ferdi Taygan
6–7, 7–6, 6–1
Loss 11. 1981 Wembley, England Carpet United States John McEnroe United States Sherwood Stewart
United States Ferdi Taygan
5–7, 7–6, 4–6
Win 37. 1982 Philadelphia, U.S. Carpet United States John McEnroe United States Sherwood Stewart
United States Ferdi Taygan
7–6, 6–4
Loss 12. 1982 Memphis, U.S. Carpet United States John McEnroe South Africa Kevin Curren
United States Steve Denton
6–7, 6–4, 2–6
Loss 13. 1982 Wimbledon, London Grass United States John McEnroe Australia Paul McNamee
Australia Peter McNamara
3–6, 2–6
Loss 14. 1982 Toronto, Canada Hard United States John McEnroe United States Steve Denton
Australia Mark Edmondson
7–6, 5–7, 2–6
Win 38. 1982 Cincinnati, U.S. Hard United States John McEnroe United States Steve Denton
Australia Mark Edmondson
6–2, 6–3
Win 39. 1982 Wembley, England Carpet United States John McEnroe Switzerland Heinz Günthardt
Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd
7–6, 6–4
Loss 15. 1983 Philadelphia, U.S. Carpet United States John McEnroe South Africa Kevin Curren
United States Steve Denton
4–6, 6–7
Loss 16. 1983 Rotterdam, Netherlands Hard (i) Czechoslovakia Pavel Složil United States Fritz Buehning
United States Tom Gullikson
6–7, 6–4, 6–7
Loss 17. 1983 Milan, Italy Carpet United States Fritz Buehning Czechoslovakia Pavel Složil
Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd
2–6, 7–5, 4–6
Win 40. 1983 Los Angeles, U.S. Hard United States John McEnroe United States Sandy Mayer
United States Ferdi Taygan
6–1, 6–2
Win 41. 1983 Wimbledon, London Grass United States John McEnroe United States Tim Gullikson
United States Tom Gullikson
6–4, 6–3, 6–4
Win 42. 1983 US Open, New York City Hard United States John McEnroe United States Fritz Buehning
United States Van Winitsky
6–3, 6–4, 6–2
Win 43. 1983 San Francisco, U.S. Carpet United States John McEnroe Czechoslovakia Ivan Lendl
United States Vincent Van Patten
6–1, 6–2
Loss 18. 1983 Stockholm, Sweden Hard (i) United States Johan Kriek Sweden Anders Järryd
Sweden Hans Simonsson
3–6, 4–6
Win 44. 1983 Wembley, England Carpet United States John McEnroe United States Steve Denton
United States Sherwood Stewart
6–3, 6–4
Win 45. 1984 Philadelphia, U.S. Carpet United States John McEnroe France Henri Leconte
France Yannick Noah
6–2, 6–3
Win 46. 1984 Memphis, U.S. Carpet United States Fritz Buehning Switzerland Heinz Günthardt
Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd
6–3, 6–0
Win 47. 1984 Madrid, Spain Carpet United States John McEnroe United States Fritz Buehning
United States Ferdi Taygan
6–3, 6–3
Win 48. 1984 Wimbledon, London Grass United States John McEnroe Australia Pat Cash
Australia Paul McNamee
6–2, 5–7, 6–2, 3–6, 6–3
Win 49. 1984 Toronto, Canada Hard United States John McEnroe Australia John Fitzgerald
Australia Kim Warwick
6–4, 6–2
Win 50. 1984 San Francisco, U.S. Carpet United States John McEnroe United States Mike De Palmer
United States Sammy Giammalva Jr.
6–3, 6–4
Win 51. 1984 Masters, New York City Carpet United States John McEnroe Czechoslovakia Pavel Složil
Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd
6–2, 6–2
Win 52. 1985 Toronto Indoor, Canada Carpet Sweden Anders Järryd United States Glenn Layendecker
Canada Glenn Michibata
7–6, 6–2
Win 53. 1985 Houston, U.S. Carpet United States John McEnroe United States Hank Pfister
United States Ben Testerman
6–3, 6–2
Win 54. 1985 Dallas, U.S. Carpet United States John McEnroe Australia Mark Edmondson
United States Sherwood Stewart
6–3, 6–1
Win 55. 1986 La Quinta, U.S. Carpet France Guy Forget France Yannick Noah
United States Sherwood Stewart
6–4, 6–3
Loss 19. 1986 Wimbledon, London Grass United States Gary Donnelly Sweden Joakim Nyström
Sweden Mats Wilander
6–7, 3–6, 3–6
Win 56. 1986 Stratton Mountain, U.S. Hard United States John McEnroe United States Paul Annacone
South Africa Christo van Rensburg
6–3, 3–6, 6–3
Loss 20. 1986 Los Angeles, U.S. Hard United States John McEnroe Sweden Stefan Edberg
Sweden Anders Järryd
6–3, 5–7, 6–7
Win 57. 1986 San Francisco, U.S. Carpet United States John McEnroe United States Mike De Palmer
United States Gary Donnelly
6–4, 7–6
Win 58. 1986 Paris Indoor, France Carpet United States John McEnroe Iran Mansour Bahrami
Uruguay Diego Pérez
6–3, 6–2
Win 59. 1986 Wembley, England Carpet United States John McEnroe United States Sherwood Stewart
Australia Kim Warwick
3–6, 7–6, 6–2
Loss 21. 1987 Forest Hills, U.S. Clay United States Gary Donnelly France Guy Forget
France Yannick Noah
6–4, 4–6, 1–6
Win 60. 1987 Washington, D.C., U.S. Hard United States Gary Donnelly Australia Laurie Warder
United States Blaine Willenborg
6–2, 7–6

Singles (3 wins, 5 losses)[edit]

Result W/L Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Loss 0–1 1978 Maui, U.S. Hard United States Bill Scanlon 2–6, 0–6
Win 1–1 1978 Bologna, Italy Carpet Italy Adriano Panatta 6–2, 7–6
Loss 1–2 1978 Montego Bay, Jamaica Hard Romania Ilie Năstase 6–2, 6–5, 2–6, 4–6, 4–6
Loss 1–3 1979 San Jose, U.S. Carpet United States John McEnroe 6–7, 6–7
Win 2–3 1979 Cincinnati, U.S. Hard United States Roscoe Tanner 6–4, 6–2
Win 3–3 1979 Los Angeles, U.S. Carpet United States John McEnroe 6–4, 6–4
Loss 3–4 1979 San Francisco, U.S. Carpet United States John McEnroe 6–4, 5–7, 2–6
Loss 3–5 1979 Maui, U.S. Hard United States Bill Scanlon 1–6, 1–6

ATP doubles records[edit]

Tournament Years Record accomplished Players matched
Grand Prix Tour Finals 1978–84 7 Titles John McEnroe
Grand Prix Tour Finals 1978–84 7 consecutive titles John McEnroe
Grand Prix Tour 1979 14 doubles titles in 1 season John McEnroe

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Best Boys Tennis Team of the Century, The Star-Ledger. Accessed December 10, 2007.
  2. ^ "OJAI Records of Events Index" (PDF). The Ojai Tennis Tournament. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 22, 2022.
  3. ^ McEnroe, John; James Kaplan (2002). You Cannot Be Serious. New York: Berkley Books. p. 109. ISBN 0-425-19008-0.
  4. ^ ITA Men's Hall of Fame
  5. ^ 2011 Tournament Honoree: Peter Fleming Archived March 25, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, FarmersClassic.com, July 30, 2011

External links[edit]