The Open Era
United States · born Chatham, New Jersey, 1955 · four times Wimbledon doubles champion with John McEnroe
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4
Wimbledon doubles titles with John McEnroe
6
Wimbledon doubles finals with McEnroe, 1978 to 1984
351-42
Doubles match record with McEnroe
14-1
Davis Cup doubles record with McEnroe
No. 1
Doubles ranking, June 1984
Peter Fleming was born in Chatham, New Jersey, in 1955, played at the University of Michigan and UCLA, and won the NCAA doubles title in 1976, the year he turned professional. He had met John McEnroe at the Port Washington Tennis Academy in 1972, and from 1978 the two played together in 68 finals. They won four Wimbledon and three US Open doubles titles, seven Masters doubles titles in a row from 1978 to 1984, and 14 of their 15 Davis Cup doubles as the United States won the Cup in 1979, 1981 and 1982. Fleming reached No. 8 in singles in July 1980, won three singles titles and became doubles world No. 1 in June 1984. He retired in 1988, lives in London and commentates for Sky Sports.
| Wimbledon doubles titles | 4, all with John McEnroe: 1979, 1981, 1983, 1984 |
|---|---|
| Wimbledon finals won | 1979: beat Brian Gottfried and Raúl RamÃrez 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2. 1981: beat Bob Lutz and Stan Smith 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. 1983: beat Tim and Tom Gullikson 6-4, 6-3, 6-4. 1984: beat Pat Cash and Paul McNamee 6-2, 5-7, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 |
| Wimbledon finals lost | 1978 with McEnroe to Bob Hewitt and Frew McMillan 1-6, 4-6, 2-6; 1982 with McEnroe to Peter McNamara and Paul McNamee; 1986 with Gary Donnelly to Joakim Nyström and Mats Wilander 6-7, 3-6, 3-6 |
| Wimbledon singles | Quarter-finals in 1980; he reached his career-high singles ranking of No. 8 on 7 July that year |
| Wimbledon | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Men's doubles | with John McEnroe |
| 1981 | Men's doubles | with John McEnroe |
| 1983 | Men's doubles | with John McEnroe |
| 1984 | Men's doubles | with John McEnroe |
Leading grass titles only: the grass majors, tour-level grass events since 1968 and the leading grass championships before 1968. †single source; ‡ sources disagree. Roll of champions
"The best doubles pair in the world is John McEnroe and anyone."
The person behind the player.
Port Washington 1972
At 16, Fleming bet a coach that he could beat a scrawny 12-year-old called John McEnroe if he started each set 4-0, 30-0 up. McEnroe won five sets in a row. Fleming said he competed like a terrier and that once he got his teeth into an opponent he never let go.
Source: The NationalPort Washington
Cards were banned at the academy run by Harry Hopman and Tony Palafox, so the two practice partners played chess, sometimes for three hours a game. Neither would resign, however hopeless the position. Each simply waited for the other to slip, an attitude they took onto the doubles court.
Source: The NationalOn tour 1978
When McEnroe joined the tour in 1978 he chose Fleming as his regular doubles partner. Asked why, Fleming said: "I was the only guy he knew." On tour Fleming was known as Flam, and he gave his younger partner a nickname of his own: Junior.
Source: ATP TourWimbledon 1984
In June 1984 Fleming became the world's top-ranked doubles player. A month later he and McEnroe met Pat Cash and Paul McNamee in the Wimbledon final and needed five sets to win 6-2, 5-7, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. It was their fourth title and their last Wimbledon final together.
Source: WikipediaDavis Cup
Fleming and McEnroe played 15 Davis Cup doubles for the United States and won 14, as the United States won the Cup in 1979, 1981 and 1982. Their only loss came in the 1984 final against Sweden. Off court Fleming took up golf, which he plays off a handicap of 10.
Source: ATP TourRiver Thames
Burglars ransacked Fleming's new Wimbledon flat while he was out playing golf and took his Wimbledon medals. About six months later a licensed mudlark found five of them together on the Thames foreshore. "It was just such a freak occurrence," Fleming said. "I thought they were gone."
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