The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

NOW that he has officially retired, former touring tennis pro Mark Knowles is considering his options of administration, coaching and or broadcasting. But right now as he relaxes here at home with his family, he is focusing his attention on his Celebrity Tennis Invitational.

The event, which got started in 2001, is all set to be held December 7-9 at the Atlantis Tennis Centre on Paradise Island.

In the past, the event raised more than $750,000 for such charities as the Sassoon Pediatric Heart Foundation, the Cancer Society, The Association of the Physically Disabled, The Boy Scouts of the Bahamas, the Special Olympics and scholarships for promising junior tennis players.

“This is the time of the year where I focus on my charity event,” he said. “This year, I can focus even more because I don’t have to worry about going to Australia on the backhand. We have another incredible line-up and we have gotten some tremendous support once again from the sponsors, so we’re ready to go.”

After the tremendous support he received last year, Knowles said he’s anticipating that the numbers will increase even more this year.

The celebrity invitational comes on the heels of the ground breaking ceremony that was held at the National Tennis Center on Friday. During the ceremony that was attended by Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson and Director of Sports Tim Munnings, the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association unveiled plans for the six-court facility that will be named the Mark Knowles Play and Stay Tennis Center for youngsters.

Knowles, who was very emotional as he reflected on his transformation from a youngster just learning the game to a veteran on the pro circuit, said he will also take the opportunity to sit down with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture to look at the possibility of him making some kind of contribution from an administrative level for tennis in the future.

“I would love to meet with the Minister (of Youth, Sports and Culture, Dr Daniel Johnson) and the government and see what I can do,” he said. “We have a lot of great athletes here with a lot of great talent. Tennis has given me so much, but there would be nothing to make me more proud than to see if I can help one or two more Bahamians become champions and kind of make records disappear in my lifetime.”

Over a span of 20-plus years on the pro circuit, Knowles inked in the record books a total of 55 career doubles titles, three as a Grand Slam winner, a mixed doubles Grand Slam title, a Masters Cup title, a No.1 ranking in doubles in 2002, five appearances for the Bahamas at the Olympic Games, a two-time year-ending doubles No.1 ranking and All-American status in singles and doubles at UCLA.

In addition, he played for 14 years on the Bahamas Davis Cup team, amassing a 41-32 win-loss record, 23-25 in singles and 18-7 in doubles.

“As you know, in all sports, records are there to be broken, so I hope before I’m gone, somebody will come along and I will only just be a memory.”

Before he officially retired after his first round exit at the US Open in Flushing Meadows, New York, in August, Knowles dabbled a little bit into coaching. He worked the sidelines for American Mardy Fish, whom he also played a number of matches with in doubles.

“I really enjoyed it. He’s just a fantastic player,” Knowles said. “I’ve always been a student of the game, but I’m not sure if I would do it week after week. That’s kind of why I’m retiring so I don’t have to be away from my family all the time. But if there is a scenario if Mardy or someone else feels like I can help their game and it won’t take away from my family, it’s definitely something I would pursue.”

Knowles even did a little bit of broadcasting for the tennis television, so he’s also leaving that door open in the event that an opportunity comes his way as well.

“My main focus is going to be concentrating on my family,” he said. “I always wanted to have a long time career and I was fortunate to have a long and successful career. But now I have a beautiful wife and three kids and I want to spend the rest of my lifetime with them.”

Whatever he decides, Knowles said he will be content, knowing that he went out there and played as hard for as long as he could on the international circuit.