Kirsten Flipkens
A crafty Belgian tennis veteran who used guile and a sliced backhand to climb into the world's top 15 after a life-threatening scare.
Born 1986 (age 40)·Belgian tennis player·Birthday: January 10·Millennials
Biography
Kirsten Flipkens won the Wimbledon junior title in 2003. Blood clots in her arm nearly ended her life and career in 2011. She rebuilt her game without relying on power. Flipkens became a tactician, using a sliced backhand, drop shots, and net play. In 2013, she reached the Wimbledon semifinals as an unseeded player. That run lifted her to a career-high ranking of No. 13. Opponents and fans called her 'Flipper.' She competed with mental toughness and strategic intelligence. Her sportsmanship made her a respected figure on the WTA tour. Flipkens played professionally into her thirties, defying the medical setbacks that could have stopped her.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Kirsten was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kirsten Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Kirsten's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Reached the semifinals of Wimbledon in 2013 as an unseeded player, defeating former champion Petra Kvitova along the way.
- Achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 13 in 2013 following her Wimbledon run.
- Won her sole WTA singles title at the 2012 Bell Challenge in Quebec City.
- Earned seven WTA doubles titles, showcasing her versatile all-court game.
- Represented Belgium in the Fed Cup (now Billie Jean King Cup) for over a decade.
Did You Know?
She is a former Wimbledon junior champion, having won the girls' singles title in 2003.
Her nickname 'Flipper' was given to her by fellow Belgian player Kim Clijsters.
She overcame a potentially career-ending medical issue involving blood clots in 2011.
Flipkens is known for her distinctive playing style, heavily utilizing a sliced backhand and frequent forays to the net.
She served as a mentor to a younger generation of Belgian players, including Elise Mertens.
“After the hospital, every match point felt like a gift.”
