Mark Knowles shared in a wonderful experience today with the next generation of tennis players who are a part of the BLTA’s Play Tennis program and those young players who play at the National Tennis Centre. The Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) was pleased to have Mark play and instruct the young kids yesterday. It was an opportunity of a lifetime to play with the most decorated player in the history of Bahamian tennis. The kids who are mainly beginner players, ranging in age from 4 to 15 years old, were excited to meet Mark. They were energized and are now more enthused to continue to play tennis.
When one thinks of the heights of tennis success in The Bahamas, the name Mark Knowles comes to mind. Mark was previously World #1 in doubles, and in singles, he rose to #96 world ranking on the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). He has Grand Slam Doubles titles under his belt (2002 Australian Open, the 2004 U.S. Open, and the 2007 French Open) with Daniel Nestor. His trophy case includes a 2009 Wimbledon mixed doubles title with Anna-Lena Grönefeld of Germany. This means Mark holds a title from each grand slam….amazing!
His legendary contribution was also displayed in team competitions and in the Olympics. Mark represented The Bahamas in singles and doubles in the prestigious Davis Cup for over 13 years. In his first tie, Mark won both his singles, helping the Bahamas defeat Venezuela 5-0 in an Americas Zone Group II clash. Five times he participated in the Olympics for The Bahamas, and the highlight was a quarterfinal appearance at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
Since retiring in 2012, Mark has been making an indelible impact off the court. He has worn the hat of TV correspondent for the Tennis Channel, and it is thrilling to hear his tennis commentary on television. He is also involved in charitable pursuits. The Mark Knowles Celebrity Tennis Invitational, held in Nassau, Bahamas, has raised over $1,000,000 to date. Play Tennis Bahamas has participated in the annual clinic with the Mark Knowles Foundation and Bahamar. Each year, the kids get to spend time with top players on the WTA and ATP circuits. In 2023, Mark was inducted into the Bahamas Sports Hall of Fame, a worthy honor.
The BLTA President, Perry Newton, took the opportunity to present Mark with the President’s Award from the BLTA’s sports award ceremony held in December. The award recognized Mark for his invaluable contributions to the sport and to the Bahamas.
The BLTA thanks those coaches(including Paula Whitfield, Marion Bain, Steve Taylor, Edward Turner) and adult players collegiate Michael Major Jr(who had a great freshman year), Dentry Mortimer Jr, Barry Usher and Marva Conyers, who were on hand and assisted in the sessions and all those who continue to volunteer their time and talent. Former BLTA president Vicky Knowles-Andrews also attended the session.
Some of the kids in the tennis session started in the Play Tennis Bahamas program, which is a free program offered by the BLTA on Saturdays, getting their feet wet and holding racquets for the first time. Fast forward to today, they had the opportunity to hold court with a tennis icon. After a great session with the ITF Development Officer Mr Goede last week and now another great session with tennis extraordinaire Mark Knowles our Play Tennis kids have been armed with many tips to take on their tennis journey. Thanks to Mark for his collaboration and his positive impact on the community.
Original Post Date: May 9, 2024
