The current manager at Forest Lake Tennis Club, Tom had a big college playing career, as the Forest Lake website attests: A Big 8 doubles champion, he was ranked #1 in St. Louis singles and doubles and at Mizzou.

He also did some damage as a local pro, consistently winning and making the finals of local tournaments and with gene dominating the local doubles scene through the 70s and into the early 1980s.

A young pro.

1974

… saw Tom and brother Gene Fluri winning the St. Louis District doubles title for the third time – they had done it before, twice, as college players.

1975

Tom won the Martin Kennedy singles and, again with Gene, won the doubles. He made the finals in the St. Louis District doubles and mixed doubles.

Remember the old Tennis Press magazine? Tom and Gene ranked #1 in doubles that year.

 1976

Tom won a fast-serve contest in St. Louis to qualify for the nationals at Forest Hills. He lost to Colin Dibley in New York.

Won Martin Kennedy singles and with Gene, won the doubles. And he made the finals in the St. Louis district doubles again.

At the KTVI Invitational, Tom:

• Beat Juan Farrow in the final to win an AMC Pacer—a then-trendy new car.
• With Gene, beat friendly rivals Heinbecker and Johnson to win the doubles title.
• Won the mixed doubles with Nora Burst.

Won the McDonald’s Money Tournament singles title, beating Dino Martin in the quarters, Jorge Ramirez in semifinals and Jack Gorsuch in final and with Gene, won the doubles, beating Jack Gorsuch and Rich Flach in the final.

1977

Tom won the Martin Kennedy singles title for a third time, and he and Gene made the doubles final.

In the 80s, Tom and Gene won the All-Racquet Tournament all four years it was held. That means they won at tennis, table tennis, racquetball, squash, badminton and platform tennis.

College tennis.

1971

After starting out on scholarship at the University of Kentucky, Tom transferred to Mizzou and played #1 singles, making the finals in the Big Eight. At #1 doubles with Gene, he brought home a Big Eight doubles title.

Back home that summer, he made the singles finals at Dwight Davis and in the St. Louis District. In doubles, he and Gene won the Dwight Davis title and made the finals at the national ATA.

1972

Junior year saw Tom playing #1 singles and amassing a 22-4 record, including a trip to the Big Eight finals.

At #1 doubles with Gene, they made the finals in the Big Eight doubles as well, and came home to win the Muny doubles championship.

1973

As a senior, Tom played No. 1 singles and doubles at Missouri, finishing with a singles record of 21-6, and made the finals in the Big Eight singles and doubles. He also broke Gene’s Mizzou record for most career wins.

Back home, he ranked No. 1 in Muny singles, won the Martin Kennedy singles title and made the finals in doubles.

Junior tennis.

1968

Tom and Gene won the Missouri state doubles championship for McCluer High School and helped McCluer win the overall state title.

 1969

With partner Bill Bristow, Tom won the Missouri state doubles title a second time, helping propel his school to a second state title. That year he would also rank #14 in the nation in junior doubles.

1970

With Gene, Tom won the national ATA doubles. He ranked #1 in St. Louis in junior singles and doubles.