Kathy Rinaldi-Stunkel (born March 24, 1967) is an American former professional tennis player, who retired in September 1997. In her career she won three singles and two doubles titles on the WTA Tour, and reached the semifinals of the 1985 Wimbledon Championships.
Kathy Rinaldi-Stunkel |
| Country (sports) |  United States |
|---|
| Residence | Palm City, Florida |
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| Born | (1967-03-24) March 24, 1967 (age 57)
Stuart, Florida |
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| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) |
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| Turned pro | 1980 |
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| Retired | September 1997 |
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| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
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| Prize money | $1,353,737 |
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|
| Career record | 277–217 |
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| Career titles | 3 WTA, 0 ITF |
|---|
| Highest ranking | No. 7 (May 26, 1986) |
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|
| Australian Open | 3R (1984) |
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| French Open | QF (1981, 1986) |
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| Wimbledon | SF (1985) |
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| US Open | 4R (1982) |
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|
| Career record | 200–184 |
|---|
| Career titles | 2 WTA, 2 ITF |
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| Highest ranking | No. 13 (February 8, 1993) |
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Rinaldi reached her highest career ranking on May 26, 1986, when she was ranked world No. 7. The recipient of WTA Most Impressive Newcomer Award in 1981 and WTA Comeback Player of the Year Award in 1989, she had career wins over top players such as Steffi Graf, Jana Novotná, Sue Barker, Pam Shriver, Hana Mandlíková, Wendy Turnbull, Manuela Maleeva, Dianne Fromholtz, Helena Suková, Claudia Kohde-Kilsch, Zina Garrison, Sylvia Hanika, Kathy Jordan, Jo Durie, and Natasha Zvereva.
In 1981, Rinaldi became the youngest player to win a match at Wimbledon (14 years, 91 days), a record that stood until 1990. After the 1987 French Open, she suffered a freak injury in Monte Carlo, slipping on stairs, and in trying to catch herself, fracturing her right thumb. This injury sidelined her for the rest of the year. She was a member of the US Wightman Cup Team in 1983, 1985, and 1986.
In December 2016, Rinaldi was appointed as the captain of the United States Fed Cup team, succeeding Mary Joe Fernandez.[1][2] In her first year as Fed Cup captain, the U.S. won the 2017 Fed Cup.
Rinaldi married Brad Stunkel, her high school sweetheart, on December 11, 1993, and adopted his surname. She gave birth to a son, Bradley Benton Stunkel Jr., on February 8, 1995. The family currently resides in Palm City, Florida.
Awards and recognitions
edit
| Legend
|
| Grand Slam tournaments (0–0)
|
| WTA Tour Championships (0–0)
|
| Virginia Slims, Avon, other (3–4)
|
|
| Finals by surface
|
| Hard (2–1)
|
| Grass (0–0)
|
| Clay (0–2)
|
| Carpet (1–1)
|
|
| Result
|
No.
|
Date
|
Tournament
|
Surface
|
Opponent
|
Score
|
| Win
|
1.
|
Oct 1981
|
Kyoto
|
Hard
|
 Julie Harrington
|
6–1, 7–5
|
| Loss
|
1.
|
May 1982
|
Berlin
|
Clay
|
 Bettina Bunge
|
2–6, 2–6
|
| Loss
|
2.
|
Jul 1982
|
San Diego
|
Hard
|
Tracy Austin
|
6–7(5–7), 3–6
|
| Win
|
2.
|
Aug 1985
|
Mahwah
|
Hard
|
Steffi Graf
|
6–4, 3–6, 6–4
|
| Loss
|
3.
|
Sep 1985
|
Chicago
|
Carpet (i)
|
Bonnie Gadusek
|
1–6, 3–6
|
| Loss
|
4.
|
May 1986
|
Houston
|
Clay
|
Chris Evert-Lloyd
|
4–6, 6–2, 4–6
|
| Win
|
3.
|
Nov 1986
|
Little Rock
|
Carpet (i)
|
 Natasha Zvereva
|
6–4, 6–7(7–9), 6–0
|
| Legend
|
| Grand Slam tournaments (0–0)
|
| Tier I (0–2)
|
| Tier II (1–2)
|
| Tier III (1–3)
|
| Tier IV (0–2)
|
| Tier V (1–1)
|
|
| Finals by surface
|
| Hard (1–7)
|
| Grass (0–0)
|
| Clay (1–2)
|
| Carpet (0–1)
|
|
| Result
|
No.
|
Date
|
Tournament
|
Surface
|
Partner
|
Opponents
|
Score
|
| Loss
|
1.
|
Mar 1991
|
San Antonio
|
Hard
|
 Jill Hetherington
|
Patty Fendick
 Monica Seles
|
6–7(2–7), 2–6
|
| Win
|
1.
|
Apr 1991
|
Houston
|
Clay
|
Jill Hetherington
|
Patty Fendick
Mary Joe Fernández
|
6–1, 2–6, 6–1
|
| Win
|
2.
|
Aug 1991
|
San Diego
|
Hard
|
Jill Hetherington
|
Gigi Fernández
 Nathalie Tauziat
|
6–4, 3–6, 6–2
|
| Loss
|
2.
|
Oct 1991
|
Leipzig
|
Carpet (i)
|
Jill Hetherington
|
 Manon Bollegraf
Isabelle Demongeot
|
4–6, 3–6
|
| Loss
|
3.
|
Feb 1992
|
Auckland
|
Hard
|
Jill Hetherington
|
 Rosalyn Fairbank
 Raffaella Reggi
|
6–1, 1–6, 5–7
|
| Loss
|
4.
|
Mar 1992
|
Indian Wells
|
Hard
|
Jill Hetherington
|
Claudia Kohde-Kilsch
Stephanie Rehe
|
3–6, 3–6
|
| Loss
|
5.
|
Mar 1992
|
Key Biscayne
|
Hard
|
Jill Hetherington
|
 Larisa Neiland
 Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
|
5–7, 7–5, 3–6
|
| Loss
|
6.
|
Apr 1992
|
Houston
|
Clay
|
Jill Hetherington
|
Patty Fendick
Gigi Fernández
|
5–7, 4–6
|
| Loss
|
7.
|
Nov 1992
|
San Juan
|
Hard
|
Gigi Fernández
|
Amanda Coetzer
Elna Reinach
|
2–6, 6–4, 2–6
|
| Loss
|
8.
|
Feb 1993
|
Auckland
|
Hard
|
Jill Hetherington
|
Isabelle Demongeot
Elna Reinach
|
2–6, 4–6
|
| Loss
|
9.
|
Mar 1993
|
Key Biscayne
|
Hard
|
Jill Hetherington
|
Larisa Neiland
 Jana Novotná
|
2–6, 5–7
|
| Loss
|
10.
|
May 1993
|
Strasbourg
|
Clay
|
Jill Hetherington
|
Shaun Stafford
 Andrea Temesvári
|
7–6(7–5), 3–6, 4–6
|
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.
United States