Ken Skupski

Ken Skupski Jnr is a former British professional player who specialised in doubles.

Ken was part of the Palmerston league teams in his younger years, playing A division tennis for the club. Prior to Ken approaching open age, he moved to America and graduated from Louisiana State University (LSU) in 2007. Ken was a NCAA Doubles finalist in 2005 and two-time South-eastern Conferences Coaches Indoor champion (only player in that conferences history to win it back-to-back. Ken was also the fourth biggest winning player in LSU’s history with 107 wins.

Ken played the Liverpool International in 2008, and was up against players like Ricard Krajicek as he started to develop his international career.

Ken focused on doubles and has taken part in all 4 grand slam competitions, reaching the quarter finals in the Australian Open (2020) and Wimbledon twice (2017, both men’s and mixed doubles). Ken reached a career-high double ranking of 44 in the world in July 2010.

Ken has won seven titles on the ATP Tour, with a notable win in the 2021 Mexican Open alongside younger brother Neal. Ken appeared at the 2010 Commonwealth Games winning two medals in the process – silver in men’s doubles with Ross Hutchins, and bronze in mixed doubles with Sarah Borwell. He also represented Great Britain in the Davis Cup in 2010.

Ken retired from professional tennis at the age of 39 in the summer of 2022. He is now developing his trade as a coach, and has run some fantastic sessions at our club. Ken is now running the Skupski Doubles Academy in partnership with coach Anthony Hardman, who deliver specialist doubles sessions up and down the country.

Neal Skupski

Neal is a three-time Grand Slam champion, winning the 2023 Wimbledon Championships in men's doubles with Wesley Koolhof, and the 2021 and 2022 Wimbledon Championships in mixed doubles alongside Desirae Krawczyk.

Neal house was on the back of the Palmerston’s grounds, so spent his years as a toddler on the tennis court. From a  very young age Neal was playing competitively for the club as a tiny junior in our 7th team, alongside senior and more experienced players. As Neal developed his game and grew older, he was in the 1st team from the very tender age of 13, holding his own against tough league opponents.

Neal was part of a very successful Palmerston team that went on to win leagues, cups and county knockout competitions.

Neal attended Louisiana State University (LSU) where he played colleague tennis and studied sports administration before turning professional in 2013, where he teamed up with his brother Ken on the ATP circuit.

Neals’s career tarting progressing and was teaming up with Jamie Murray. He reached the men’s double final in the US Open, losing out to Juan Cabral and Robert Farah. Due getting to a number of Maters 1000 Finals (with the likes of Dan Evans) and winning his 5th ATP Challenger event, Neal then broke into the Top 20 in world doubles, reaching number 16 in April 2021.

As referenced above, Neal partnered Desirae Krawczyk to win 2 mixed doubles titles in 2021 and 2022, along with his excellent results with Wesley Koolhof, both Neal and Wesley entered November 2022 as World Doubles Number 1 pair on the ATP Tour. Neal held this position for over a year and consolidated this by winning the men’s doubles at Wimbledon with Wesley in 2023.

Neal has also represented Great Britain in the Summer Olympics in 2020 and has been a regular in the Davis Cup team since 2019.

As of December 2023, Neal has 30 x ATP Challenger and ITF Titles, x Masters 1,000 titles, 15 ATP titles and 3 grand slams to his name. Palmerston could not be prouder of our local lad who still often visits the club to see members and supports by watching the teams play league matches when he is in Liverpool.