FAVOURITE
SURFACE: Hard
SHOT: Serve
COACH
Louis Cayer, Sean Dunstan, Anthony Hardman
AGE41
HEIGHT183 cm
PLAYSLeft-handed
BACKHANDTwo-handed
LTA SUPPORT NTC Pro Access
TURNED PRO2001
FAVOURITE
SURFACE:Hard
SHOT:Serve
COACH
Louis Cayer, Sean Dunstan, Anthony Hardman
Get to know Ken Skupski
About
QUICK-FIRE FACTS
- Place of birth: Liverpool
- Lives: Liverpool
- Trains: Liverpool/NTC
- Nickname: Skups
- Favourite tournament: Wimbledon
- Tennis beginnings: His breakthrough year was 2009, when he won his first two ATP tournaments and broke into the world's top 50 doubles players.
- Likes: Very talented golfer (handicap of six) and a big fan of Liverpool FC.
- Family: Married with three children. Father Ken Sr. is of Polish descent, mother is Mary. Often partners his brother Neal on court.
Tennis Career
January
Skupski began the season playing with Dom Inglot. The Brits reached the second round of the men's doubles at the Australian Open - losing out to Raven Klaasen and Ben McLachlan.
March
Skupski and partner Jonny O’Mara, made it through to the semi-finals of the Lille Challenger after defeating German double-act, Hendrik Jebens and Benjamin Hassan. In their bid for a place in the final, the Brits lost out to France’s Quentin Halys and Jonathan Eysseric 6-4, 6-7(1), 8-10.
O’Mara and Skupski clinched a spot in the quarter-finals of the ATP Challenger held in Marbella, but, subsequently, lost out on a place in the top four after losing 2-6, 6-3, 10-7 to Roman Jebavy and Philipp Oswald.
April
Skupski and O’Mara beat German/Austrian duo, Mats Moraing and Dennis Vovak, to reach the semi-finals of the Prague Challenger, but their campaign came to an end after losing 4-6, 7-6(7), 10-5 to French pair, Lucas Pouille and Tristan Lamasine.
June
The British duo headed to the Rothesay Open Nottingham, where Skupski won his fourth men's doubles title at the Nottingham Tennis Centre, defeating Julian Cash and Henry Patten 3-6, 6-2, 16-14.
July
Skupski commemorated his last campaign at SW19 with a place in the third round alongside countryman O’Mara. Two straight-sets victories paved the way to a well-earned place in the third round before missing out on the fourth following their defeat against German duo, Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies.
Partnered with his brother, Neal, Skupski won his first ATP 500 doubles event in Acapulco, defeating Jamie Murray and Joe Salisbury on the way.
In June, he won his third title in Nottingham, teaming up with Matt Reid to defeat Matthew Ebden and John-Patrick Smith in the Nature Valley Open ATP Challenger final. Later in the year he went on to win his third title of the season with his third different partner, joining up with fellow Brit Jonny O'Mara to be crowned champions at the Sofia Open.
Most recently reached the quarter-final at Queen’s where he and Dan Evans lost out to eventual champions Andy Murray and Feliciano Lopez. Won the ATP 250 Hungarian Open title alongside his brother Neal in April, beating Marcus Daniell and Wesley Koolhof in the final. Reached the second round at Roland Garros with Neal, where they were beaten by Bob and Mike Bryan.
Winning his first title alongside his brother in (ATP 250 in Montpelier 2018). At the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Skupski and Ross Hutchins won the Doubles Silver Medal. In the Mixed Doubles, Skupski and Sarah Borwell beat Ross Hutchins and Anna Smith to win the Bronze Medal. His best result at a grand slam came at Wimbledon 2017, reaching the quarter-finals of both the men's doubles and mixed doubles.
Skupski used to attend Louisiana State University, graduating in May 2007. NCAA Doubles finalist 2005 and Two-time Southeastern Conference Coaches Indoor Champion (only player in the history of the Southeastern Conference to win back-to-back titles). Fourth biggest winning player in the school’s history with 107 wins. Six-time All-American (two Singles, one Doubles and three Academic).
*ATP Challenger and ITF titles have been combined in the overall ITF titles on this page