The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Mark Knowles, the Bahamas’ most prolific tennis player, is coming home to contribute to the growth and development of the sport.

Knowles, who has raised more than $1 million from his annual Mark Knowles Celebrity Tennis Invitational,

is all set to assist the Albury Tennis Academy on October 3. The academy was opened is month and is powered by Lleyton Hewitt with Grand Dolye as the Director of Tennis.

“It is in my great interest to start a formal tennis programme at Albany that will benefit the entire Bahamas and especially identify and develop our local talent,” Knowles said.

“I do not want any child to miss out on the opportunity to dream big and achieve lofty goals on the international stage. Now is the time to use my abilities along with the facilities at Albany to create the Bahamas’ next world champions.”

Under his supervision, Knowles said he intends to organise a high performance junior tennis training squad.

The selected players will attend after school sessions at the Albany Tennis Academy and perhaps eventually graduate to full-time students. This will alleviate the need for juniors to attend expensive, foreign tennis academies.

He said the programme would identify the appropriate tennis talent within the Bahamas while offering them the opportunity to achieve their goals, even attaining the international successes of a Mark Knowles or Roger Smith.

Knowles, 46, disclosed that the initial squad would consist of between 4-8 juniors between the ages of 11 and 15. They will continue their education at their local schools with time off to travel to international tournaments.

Knowles, however, will liaise with their individual schools to ensure that their academics continue to be of particular importance.

The 6-foot, 3-inch Knowles is synonymous with tennis in the Bahamas - no other is more decorated in the sport of Bahamian tennis than himself.

At one point in his career in singles, Knowles was ranked No. 96 in the world on the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).

However, Knowles is famous for his success in doubles. He is a three-time men’s doubles Grand Slam champion (2002 Australian Open, 2004 US Open and 2007 French Open). He also won the 2009 Grand Slam Wimbledon Mixed doubles title and has held the No.1 world doubles ranking for 65 weeks.

Additionally, Knowles was the 2007 world doubles champion, had a career high of No.96 in singles, won 55 ATP doubles titles and he was the UCLA All American in singles and doubles.

Knowles has represented the Bahamas in singles and doubles in the prestigious Davis Cup for more than 13 years and the Olympic Games five times with his highlight coming in 2000 in Sydney, Australia where he made it to the quarterfinal.

On July 5, 2006, Knowles proved his stamina on the court when he participated in one of the longest matches in Wimbledon history.

In 2012 in San Jose, became the first men’s player aged 40 and over to win a tour-level doubles title since John McEnroe. After this historic win Knowles announced his retirement from professional tennis in September 2012.

Since then, Knowles has been concentrating on his Mark Knowles Celebrity Tennis Invitational, which is held in Nassau, Bahamas, has raised over $1,000,000 to date. In 2010 the event celebrated its 10th anniversary.

The invitees over the years to this world class event has included world renowned Andy Murray, Andy Roddick, Andre Agassi, Jim Courier, James Blake, Tommy Haas and the Bryan Brothers.