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).
Full name | Peter Blair Fleming |
---|---|
Country (sports) | United States |
Residence | Glen Cove, New York, US |
Born | Chatham Borough, New Jersey, US | January 21, 1955
Height | 6 ft 5 (1.96 m) |
Turned pro | 1976 |
Retired | 1988 |
Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
Prize money | $1,986,799 |
Singles | |
Career record | 224–213 |
Career titles | 3 |
Highest ranking | No. 8 (July 7, 1980) |
Grand Slam singles results | |
Australian Open | 3R (1983) |
French Open | 2R (1977, 1980) |
Wimbledon | QF (1980) |
US Open | 3R (1978) |
Doubles | |
Career record | 507–177 |
Career titles | 60 |
Highest ranking | No. 1 (June 11, 1984) |
Grand Slam doubles results | |
Australian Open | 3R (1983) |
French Open | SF (1987) |
Wimbledon | W (1979, 1981, 1983, 1984) |
US Open | W (1979, 1981, 1983) |
Other doubles tournaments | |
Tour Finals | W (1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984) |
Mixed doubles | |
Career record | 6–5 |
Career titles | 0 |
Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
Wimbledon | 3R (1987) |
US Open | F (1986) |
Tennis career
editFleming 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]
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
editDoubles (60 wins, 21 losses)
editResult | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 1. | 1976 | La Costa, U.S. | Hard | Gene Mayer | Marty Riessen Roscoe Tanner |
6–7, 6–7 |
Loss | 2. | 1977 | Columbus, U.S. | Clay | Gene Mayer | Robert Lutz Stan Smith |
6–4, 5–7, 2–6 |
Loss | 3. | 1977 | Laguna Niguel, U.S. | Hard | Trey Waltke | James Chico Hagey Billy Martin |
3–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 4. | 1977 | Johannesburg WCT, South Africa | Hard | Raymond Moore | Marty Riessen Roscoe Tanner |
6–7, 6–7 |
Win | 1. | 1978 | Monte Carlo WCT, Monaco | Clay | Tomáš Šmíd | Jaime Fillol Ilie Năstase |
6–4, 7–5 |
Loss | 5. | 1978 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | John McEnroe | Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan |
1–6, 4–6, 2–6 |
Win | 2. | 1978 | South Orange, U.S. | Clay | John McEnroe | Ion Țiriac Guillermo Vilas |
6–3, 6–3 |
Win | 3. | 1978 | San Francisco, U.S. | Carpet | John McEnroe | Robert Lutz Stan Smith |
5–7, 6–4, 6–4 |
Loss | 6. | 1978 | Maui, U.S. | Hard | John McEnroe | Tim Gullikson Tom Gullikson |
6–7, 6–7 |
Win | 4. | 1978 | Cologne, West Germany | Hard (i) | John McEnroe | Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan |
6–3, 6–2 |
Win | 5. | 1978 | Bologna, Italy | Carpet | John McEnroe | Jean-Louis Haillet Antonio Zugarelli |
6–1, 6–4 |
Win | 6. | 1978 | Johannesburg, South Africa | Hard | Raymond Moore | Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan |
6–3, 7–6 |
Win | 7. | 1979 | World Doubles WCT, London | Carpet | John McEnroe | Ilie Năstase Sherwood Stewart |
3–6, 6–2, 6–3, 6–1 |
Loss | 7. | 1979 | Philadelphia, U.S. | Carpet | John McEnroe | Wojtek Fibak Tom Okker |
7–5, 1–6, 3–6 |
Win | 8. | 1979 | New Orleans, U.S. | Carpet | John McEnroe | Robert Lutz Stan Smith |
6–1, 6–3 |
Win | 9. | 1979 | Milan, Italy | Carpet | John McEnroe | José Luis Clerc Tomáš Šmíd |
6–1, 6–3 |
Win | 10. | 1979 | Rotterdam, Netherlands | Carpet | John McEnroe | Heinz Günthardt Bernard Mitton |
6–4, 6–4 |
Win | 11. | 1979 | San Jose, U.S. | Carpet | John McEnroe | Hank Pfister Brad Rowe |
6–3, 6–4 |
Win | 12. | 1979 | Rome, Italy | Carpet | Tomáš Šmíd | José Luis Clerc Ilie Năstase |
4–6, 6–1, 7–5 |
Win | 13. | 1979 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | John McEnroe | Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez |
4–6, 6–4, 6–2, 6–2 |
Win | 14. | 1979 | Forest Hills WCT, U.S. | Clay | John McEnroe | Gene Mayer Sandy Mayer |
6–7, 7–6, 6–3 |
Win | 15. | 1979 | South Orange, U.S. | Clay | John McEnroe | Fritz Buehning Bruce Nichols |
6–1, 6–3 |
Win | 16. | 1979 | Toronto, Canada | Hard | John McEnroe | Heinz Günthardt Bob Hewitt |
6–7, 7–6, 6–1 |
Win | 17. | 1979 | US Open, New York City | Hard | John McEnroe | Robert Lutz Stan Smith |
6–2, 6–4 |
Win | 18. | 1979 | San Francisco, U.S. | Carpet | John McEnroe | Wojtek Fibak Frew McMillan |
6–1, 6–4 |
Win | 19. | 1979 | Stockholm, Sweden | Hard (i) | John McEnroe | Wojtek Fibak Tom Okker |
6–4, 6–4 |
Win | 20. | 1979 | Wembley, England | Carpet | John McEnroe | Tomáš Šmíd Stan Smith |
6–2, 6–3 |
Win | 21. | 1979 | Bologna, Italy | Carpet | John McEnroe | Fritz Buehning Ferdi Taygan |
6–1, 6–1 |
Win | 22. | 1980 | Philadelphia, U.S. | Carpet | John McEnroe | Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez |
6–3, 7–6 |
Win | 23. | 1980 | Milan, Italy | Carpet | John McEnroe | Andrew Pattison Butch Walts |
6–2, 6–7, 6–2 |
Win | 24. | 1980 | Forest Hills WCT, U.S. | Clay | John McEnroe | Peter McNamara Paul McNamee |
6–2, 5–7, 6–2 |
Loss | 8. | 1980 | Columbus, U.S. | Hard | Eliot Teltscher | Brian Gottfried Sandy Mayer |
4–6, 2–6 |
Loss | 9. | 1980 | US Open, New York City | Hard | John McEnroe | Robert Lutz Stan Smith |
6–7, 6–3, 1–6, 6–3, 3–6 |
Win | 25. | 1980 | San Francisco, U.S. | Carpet | John McEnroe | Gene Mayer Sandy Mayer |
6–1, 6–4 |
Win | 26. | 1980 | Maui, U.S. | Hard | John McEnroe | Victor Amaya Hank Pfister |
7–6, 6–7, 6–2 |
Win | 27. | 1980 | Sydney Indoor, Australia | Hard (i) | John McEnroe | Tim Gullikson Johan Kriek |
4–6, 6–1, 6–2 |
Win | 28. | 1980 | Hong Kong | Hard | Ferdi Taygan | Bruce Manson Brian Teacher |
7–5, 6–2 |
Win | 29. | 1980 | Wembley, England | Carpet | John McEnroe | Bill Scanlon Eliot Teltscher |
7–5, 6–3 |
Win | 30. | 1981 | Las Vegas, U.S. | Hard | John McEnroe | Tracy Delatte Trey Waltke |
6–3, 7–6 |
Win | 31. | 1981 | Forest Hills WCT, U.S. | Clay | John McEnroe | John Fitzgerald Andy Kohlberg |
6–4, 6–4 |
Win | 32. | 1981 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | John McEnroe | Robert Lutz Stan Smith |
6–4, 6–4, 6–4 |
Loss | 10. | 1981 | Montreal, Canada | Hard | John McEnroe | Raúl Ramírez Ferdi Taygan |
6–2, 6–7, 4–6 |
Win | 33. | 1981 | Atlanta, U.S. | Hard | Fritz Buehning | Sammy Giammalva Jr. Tony Giammalva |
6–4, 4–6, 6–3 |
Win | 34. | 1981 | US Open, New York City | Hard | John McEnroe | Heinz Günthardt Peter McNamara |
DEF |
Win | 35. | 1981 | San Francisco, U.S. | Carpet | John McEnroe | Mark Edmondson Sherwood Stewart |
7–6, 6–4 |
Win | 36. | 1981 | Sydney Indoor, Australia | Hard (i) | John McEnroe | Sherwood Stewart Ferdi Taygan |
6–7, 7–6, 6–1 |
Loss | 11. | 1981 | Wembley, England | Carpet | John McEnroe | Sherwood Stewart Ferdi Taygan |
5–7, 7–6, 4–6 |
Win | 37. | 1982 | Philadelphia, U.S. | Carpet | John McEnroe | Sherwood Stewart Ferdi Taygan |
7–6, 6–4 |
Loss | 12. | 1982 | Memphis, U.S. | Carpet | John McEnroe | Kevin Curren Steve Denton |
6–7, 6–4, 2–6 |
Loss | 13. | 1982 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | John McEnroe | Paul McNamee Peter McNamara |
3–6, 2–6 |
Loss | 14. | 1982 | Toronto, Canada | Hard | John McEnroe | Steve Denton Mark Edmondson |
7–6, 5–7, 2–6 |
Win | 38. | 1982 | Cincinnati, U.S. | Hard | John McEnroe | Steve Denton Mark Edmondson |
6–2, 6–3 |
Win | 39. | 1982 | Wembley, England | Carpet | John McEnroe | Heinz Günthardt Tomáš Šmíd |
7–6, 6–4 |
Loss | 15. | 1983 | Philadelphia, U.S. | Carpet | John McEnroe | Kevin Curren Steve Denton |
4–6, 6–7 |
Loss | 16. | 1983 | Rotterdam, Netherlands | Hard (i) | Pavel Složil | Fritz Buehning Tom Gullikson |
6–7, 6–4, 6–7 |
Loss | 17. | 1983 | Milan, Italy | Carpet | Fritz Buehning | Pavel Složil Tomáš Šmíd |
2–6, 7–5, 4–6 |
Win | 40. | 1983 | Los Angeles, U.S. | Hard | John McEnroe | Sandy Mayer Ferdi Taygan |
6–1, 6–2 |
Win | 41. | 1983 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | John McEnroe | Tim Gullikson Tom Gullikson |
6–4, 6–3, 6–4 |
Win | 42. | 1983 | US Open, New York City | Hard | John McEnroe | Fritz Buehning Van Winitsky |
6–3, 6–4, 6–2 |
Win | 43. | 1983 | San Francisco, U.S. | Carpet | John McEnroe | Ivan Lendl Vincent Van Patten |
6–1, 6–2 |
Loss | 18. | 1983 | Stockholm, Sweden | Hard (i) | Johan Kriek | Anders Järryd Hans Simonsson |
3–6, 4–6 |
Win | 44. | 1983 | Wembley, England | Carpet | John McEnroe | Steve Denton Sherwood Stewart |
6–3, 6–4 |
Win | 45. | 1984 | Philadelphia, U.S. | Carpet | John McEnroe | Henri Leconte Yannick Noah |
6–2, 6–3 |
Win | 46. | 1984 | Memphis, U.S. | Carpet | Fritz Buehning | Heinz Günthardt Tomáš Šmíd |
6–3, 6–0 |
Win | 47. | 1984 | Madrid, Spain | Carpet | John McEnroe | Fritz Buehning Ferdi Taygan |
6–3, 6–3 |
Win | 48. | 1984 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | John McEnroe | Pat Cash Paul McNamee |
6–2, 5–7, 6–2, 3–6, 6–3 |
Win | 49. | 1984 | Toronto, Canada | Hard | John McEnroe | John Fitzgerald Kim Warwick |
6–4, 6–2 |
Win | 50. | 1984 | San Francisco, U.S. | Carpet | John McEnroe | Mike De Palmer Sammy Giammalva Jr. |
6–3, 6–4 |
Win | 51. | 1984 | Masters, New York City | Carpet | John McEnroe | Pavel Složil Tomáš Šmíd |
6–2, 6–2 |
Win | 52. | 1985 | Toronto Indoor, Canada | Carpet | Anders Järryd | Glenn Layendecker Glenn Michibata |
7–6, 6–2 |
Win | 53. | 1985 | Houston, U.S. | Carpet | John McEnroe | Hank Pfister Ben Testerman |
6–3, 6–2 |
Win | 54. | 1985 | Dallas, U.S. | Carpet | John McEnroe | Mark Edmondson Sherwood Stewart |
6–3, 6–1 |
Win | 55. | 1986 | La Quinta, U.S. | Carpet | Guy Forget | Yannick Noah Sherwood Stewart |
6–4, 6–3 |
Loss | 19. | 1986 | Wimbledon, London | Grass | Gary Donnelly | Joakim Nyström Mats Wilander |
6–7, 3–6, 3–6 |
Win | 56. | 1986 | Stratton Mountain, U.S. | Hard | John McEnroe | Paul Annacone Christo van Rensburg |
6–3, 3–6, 6–3 |
Loss | 20. | 1986 | Los Angeles, U.S. | Hard | John McEnroe | Stefan Edberg Anders Järryd |
6–3, 5–7, 6–7 |
Win | 57. | 1986 | San Francisco, U.S. | Carpet | John McEnroe | Mike De Palmer Gary Donnelly |
6–4, 7–6 |
Win | 58. | 1986 | Paris Indoor, France | Carpet | John McEnroe | Mansour Bahrami Diego Pérez |
6–3, 6–2 |
Win | 59. | 1986 | Wembley, England | Carpet | John McEnroe | Sherwood Stewart Kim Warwick |
3–6, 7–6, 6–2 |
Loss | 21. | 1987 | Forest Hills, U.S. | Clay | Gary Donnelly | Guy Forget Yannick Noah |
6–4, 4–6, 1–6 |
Win | 60. | 1987 | Washington, D.C., U.S. | Hard | Gary Donnelly | Laurie Warder Blaine Willenborg |
6–2, 7–6 |
Singles (3 wins, 5 losses)
editResult | W/L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 0–1 | 1978 | Maui, U.S. | Hard | Bill Scanlon | 2–6, 0–6 |
Win | 1–1 | 1978 | Bologna, Italy | Carpet | Adriano Panatta | 6–2, 7–6 |
Loss | 1–2 | 1978 | Montego Bay, Jamaica | Hard | Ilie Năstase | 6–2, 6–5, 2–6, 4–6, 4–6 |
Loss | 1–3 | 1979 | San Jose, U.S. | Carpet | John McEnroe | 6–7, 6–7 |
Win | 2–3 | 1979 | Cincinnati, U.S. | Hard | Roscoe Tanner | 6–4, 6–2 |
Win | 3–3 | 1979 | Los Angeles, U.S. | Carpet | John McEnroe | 6–4, 6–4 |
Loss | 3–4 | 1979 | San Francisco, U.S. | Carpet | John McEnroe | 6–4, 5–7, 2–6 |
Loss | 3–5 | 1979 | Maui, U.S. | Hard | Bill Scanlon | 1–6, 1–6 |
ATP doubles records
editTournament | 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
editReferences
edit- ^ Best Boys Tennis Team of the Century, The Star-Ledger. Accessed December 10, 2007.
- ^ "OJAI Records of Events Index" (PDF). The Ojai Tennis Tournament. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 22, 2022.
- ^ McEnroe, John; James Kaplan (2002). You Cannot Be Serious. New York: Berkley Books. p. 109. ISBN 0-425-19008-0.
- ^ ITA Men's Hall of Fame
- ^ 2011 Tournament Honoree: Peter Fleming Archived March 25, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, FarmersClassic.com, July 30, 2011