Mark Knowles
Mark Knowles is a professional tennis coach and former professional tennis player from the Bahamas, former number 1 in world specialising in doubles tennis. He won all of the Grand Slam tournaments, most notably partnering with Daniel Nestor. At various times between 2002 and 2005 he was ranked World No. 1 in doubles. He is a five-time Olympian.
Career
After being awarded a scholarship to the Nick Bollettieri's famed academy at 10 years old, Knowles played three seasons at UCLA, where he earned All-American honours in both singles and doubles. His highest ATP singles ranking was world no. 96. He was very successful in doubles, partnering Daniel Nestor, Mahesh Bhupathi. With Nestor, Knowles won the 2002 Australian Open, the 2004 US Open and the 2007 French Open. He also won the 2009 Wimbledon Mixed doubles title with Anna-Lena Grönefeld of Germany.On 5 July 2006, Knowles and Nestor participated in one of the longest matches in Wimbledon history. Their quarterfinal match against Sweden's Simon Aspelin and Australian Todd Perry lasted 6 hours and 9 minutes, with Knowles and Nestor eventually winning 5-7, 6-3, 6-7, 6-2, 23-21.
His 13 year partnership with Daniel Nestor ended after the 2007 US Open. After reaching the Basel final with James Blake, Knowles reunited with Nestor once again to win the 2007 Tennis Masters Cup. They defeated Simon Aspelin and Julian Knowle, 6–3, 6–2, to take their first Tennis Masters Cup title.
Knowles then played with fellow Grand Slam doubles champion Mahesh Bhupathi, for two seasons in 2008 and 2009, and the two were one of the most successful teams on tour, qualifying for the season-ending championships in both years. After losing in their season debut in Sydney, Knowles and Bhupathi knocked out defending champions Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, taking the gripping match in a final set tiebreak. The two lost to eventual champions Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram. Other season highlights included three titles, at Memphis, Dubai and Basel. The victory in Basel gave Knowles his 50th career title.
At the 2009 Australian Open, Knowles and Bhupathi went one step further than the year before, reaching the final before losing to the Bryans in three sets, after winning the first set 6–2. They went on to reach the US Open final later that year, despite the fact that Knowles was hampered by a hand injury that required eight stitches on his dominant hand. They also claimed their first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown together, winning the Rogers Cup in Montreal. They closed out their partnership at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, winning their round-robin group before going down in the semifinals to the Bryans. Knowles also repeated as champion in Memphis with Mardy Fish.
In 2010, Knowles joined forces with Fish, and after both struggled with injuries the first half of the season, the two captured the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington, defeating Tomáš Berdych and Radek Štěpánek in the final. The two advanced to the quarterfinals of the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati and the third round of the US Open. Knowles finished the season on a high note with a runner-up finish at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event in Paris with Andy Ram. The two upset top-ranked Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan in the quarterfinals.
2011 was a tough year for the Bahamian, as his season partner, Michal Mertiňák, went down with a back injury at the French Open. Prior to that, the two made semifinal appearances in San Jose and Memphis and the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells. After falling in the first round of Wimbledon with Łukasz Kubot, Knowles played his 10th season of World TeamTennis with the Sacramento Capitals, and then partnered Xavier Malisse to the Farmers Classic title at his former college campus, UCLA. The two edged Somdev Devvarman and Treat Conrad Huey to give the Bahamian his 54th doubles title. Knowles and Malisse also reached the quarterfinals in Washington and the third round at the US Open.
In October, Knowles was invited to participate in the 19th annual World TeamTennis Smash Hits charity event in Cleveland, co-hosted by Sir Elton John and Billie Jean King. Knowles was selected by John as a member of his team, which went on to win the exhibition 19–18. The event raised over $500,000 for various AIDS charities.
At the 2012 SAP Open, Knowles rejoined Malisse to win the ATP World Tour 250 event in San Jose, becoming the first men's player over 40 to win a tour-level doubles title since John McEnroe.
Team Competitions
Knowles was a standout at UCLA for three years, earning All-American honors in singles and doubles before turning pro in 1991.Representing the Bahamas, Knowles competed in five consecutive Olympic Games and is his country's all-time leader in Davis Cup wins, playing in 29 ties. He received the prestigious Davis Cup Commitment Award from ITF president Francesco Ricci Bitti at the All England Club in 2014.
In World TeamTennis, Knowles was the captain of the Sacramento Capitals for 10 years, picking up three Male MVP Awards. His team won championships in 2002 and 2007.
Retirement and Current Status
Knowles announced his retirement from professional tennis in September 2012, but took part in men's and mixed doubles at Wimbledon 2013, where he and British player Jamie Delgado shared the all-time male record for playing in consecutive Wimbledon tournaments, with 22 appearances in the Open era. However the following year 2014, Jamie Delgado played doubles in the main draw to take the record of 23 appearances, while Knowles returned for an exhibition doubles only.During his final full season on tour, Knowles was hired by his former doubles partner Mardy Fish to coach him. They begin working together in Miami in 2012.
Since 2013, Knowles has worked on-air for Tennis Channel, providing in-match commentary, courtside interviews and tournament desk analysis.
He started coaching top 10 tennis player Milos Raonic in June 2017, before the grass court season.
Currently, he is coaching top American player Jack Sock.
Memberships
Knowles was elected by his peers as Vice-President of the ATP and was selected to be on the ATP Drug Force Council.ATP career finals
Doubles: 99 (55–44)
| Result | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
| Win | 1. | 2 August 1993 | Montréal, Canada | Hard |  Jim Courier |  Glenn Michibata David Pate | 6–4, 7–6 |
| Loss | 1. | 21 March 1994 | Miami, US | Hard | Jared Palmer |  Jacco Eltingh Paul Haarhuis | 6–7, 6–7 |
| Win | 2. | 19 September 1994 | Bogotá, Colombia | Clay | Daniel Nestor | Luke Jensen Murphy Jensen | 6–4, 7–6 |
| Loss | 2. | 30 January 1995 | Melbourne, Australia | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Jared Palmer Richey Reneberg | 3–6, 6–3, 3–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 3. | 17 April 1995 | Tokyo, Japan | Hard | Jonathan Stark |  John Fitzgerald Anders Järryd | 6–3, 3–6, 7–6 |
| Loss | 3. | 14 August 1995 | Cincinnati, US | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Todd Woodbridge Mark Woodforde | 2–6, 0–3, RET |
| Win | 4. | 21 August 1995 | Indianapolis, US | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Scott Davis Todd Martin | 6–4, 6–4 |
| Win | 5. | 8 January 1996 | Doha, Qatar | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Jacco Eltingh Paul Haarhuis | 7–6, 6–3 |
| Win | 6. | 5 February 1996 | Shanghai, China | Carpet |  Roger Smith | Jim Grabb Michael Tebbutt | 4–6, 6–2, 7–6 |
| Win | 7. | 26 February 1996 | Memphis, US | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Todd Woodbridge Mark Woodforde | 6–4, 7–5 |
| Loss | 4. | 22 April 1996 | Tokyo, Japan | Hard | Rick Leach | Todd Woodbridge Mark Woodforde | 2–6, 3–6 |
| Win | 8. | 13 May 1996 | Hamburg, Germany | Clay | Daniel Nestor |  Guy Forget Jakob Hlasek | 6–2, 6–4 |
| Win | 9. | 12 August 1996 | Cincinnati, US | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Sandon Stolle Cyril Suk | 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
| Loss | 5. | 26 August 1996 | Toronto, Canada | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Patrick Galbraith Paul Haarhuis | 6–7, 3–6 |
| Loss | 6. | 17 February 1997 | San Jose, US | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Brian MacPhie Gary Muller | 6–4, 6–7, 5–7 |
| Win | 10. | 17 March 1997 | Indian Wells, US | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Mark Philippoussis Patrick Rafter | 7–6, 4–6, 7–5 |
| Loss | 7. | 31 March 1997 | Miami, US | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Todd Woodbridge Mark Woodforde | 7–6, 7–6 |
| Win | 11. | 19 May 1997 | Rome, Italy | Clay | Daniel Nestor |  Byron Black Alex O'Brien | 6–3, 4–6, 7–5 |
| Loss | 8. | 8 June 1998 | Paris, France | Clay | Daniel Nestor | Jacco Eltingh Paul Haarhuis | 3–6, 6–3, 3–6 |
| Win | 12. | 17 August 1998 | Cincinnati, US | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Olivier Delaître Fabrice Santoro | 6–1, 2–1, RET |
| Loss | 9. | 24 August 1998 | Indianapolis, US | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Jiří Novák David Rikl | 2–6, 6–7 |
| Loss | 10. | 14 September 1998 | New York, US | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Cyril Suk Sandon Stolle | 6–4, 6–7, 2–6 |
| Loss | 11. | 22 November 1998 | Hartford, US | Carpet | Daniel Nestor | Jacco Eltingh Paul Haarhuis | 4–6, 2–6, 5–7 |
| Loss | 12. | 8 March 1999 | Scottsdale, US | Hard | Sandon Stolle | Justin Gimelstob Richey Reneberg | 4–6, 7–6, 3–6 |
| Win | 13. | 10 January 2000 | Doha, Qatar | Hard |  Max Mirnyi | Alex O'Brien Jared Palmer | 6–3, 6–4 |
| Loss | 13. | 17 April 2000 | Atlanta, US | Clay | Justin Gimelstob | Ellis Ferreira Rick Leach | 3–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 14. | 27 November 2000 | Stockholm, Sweden | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Petr Pála Pavel Vízner | 6–3, 6–2 |
| Win | 15. | 8 January 2001 | Doha, Qatar | Hard | Daniel Nestor |  Juan Balcells Andrei Olhovskiy | 6–3, 6–1 |
| Win | 16. | 5 March 2001 | San Jose, US | Hard | Brian MacPhie | Jan-Michael Gambill Jonathan Stark | 6–3, 7–6 |
| Win | 17. | 20 August 2001 | Indianapolis, US | Hard | Brian MacPhie |  Mahesh Bhupathi Sébastien Lareau | 7–6, 5–7, 6–4 |
| Win | 18. | 28 January 2002 | Melbourne, Australia | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Michaël Llodra Fabrice Santoro | 7–6, 6–3 |
| Loss | 14. | 25 February 2002 | Rotterdam, Netherlands | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Roger Federer Max Mirnyi | 6–4, 3–6, |
| Win | 19. | 4 March 2002 | Dubai, UAE | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Joshua Eagle Sandon Stolle | 3–6, 6–3, |
| Loss | 15. | 11 March 2002 | Scottsdale, US | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Bob Bryan Mike Bryan | 5–7, 6–7 |
| Win | 20. | 18 March 2002 | Indian Wells, US | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Roger Federer Max Mirnyi | 6–4, 6–4 |
| Win | 21. | 1 April 2002 | Miami, US | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Donald Johnson Jared Palmer | 6–3, 3–6, 6–1 |
| Loss | 16. | 10 June 2002 | Paris, France | Clay | Daniel Nestor | Paul Haarhuis Yevgeny Kafelnikov | 5–7, 4–6 |
| Win | 22. | 24 June 2002 | Nottingham, England | Grass | Mike Bryan | Donald Johnson Jared Palmer | 0–6, 7–6, 6–4 |
| Loss | 17. | 8 July 2002 | London, England | Grass | Daniel Nestor | Jonas Björkman Todd Woodbridge | 1–6, 2–6, 7–6, 5–7 |
| Loss | 18. | 5 August 2002 | Toronto, Canada | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Bob Bryan Mike Bryan | 6–4, 6–7, 3–6 |
| Win | 23. | 19 August 2002 | Indianapolis, US | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Mahesh Bhupathi Max Mirnyi | 7–6, 6–7, 6–4 |
| Loss | 19. | 14 October 2002 | Lyon, France | Carpet | Daniel Nestor | Wayne Black Kevin Ullyett | 4–6, 6–3, 6–7 |
| Win | 24. | 21 October 2002 | Madrid, Spain | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Mahesh Bhupathi Max Mirnyi | 6–3, 7–5, 6–0 |
| Loss | 20. | 28 October 2002 | Basel, Switzerland | Carpet | Daniel Nestor | Bob Bryan Mike Bryan | 6–7, 5–7 |
| Loss | 21. | 6 January 2003 | Doha, Qatar | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Martin Damm Cyril Suk | 4–6, 6–7 |
| Loss | 22. | 27 January 2003 | Melbourne, Australia | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Michaël Llodra Fabrice Santoro | 4–6, 6–3, 3–6 |
| Win | 25. | 24 February 2003 | Memphis, US | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Bob Bryan Mike Bryan | 6–2, 7–6 |
| Win | 26. | 3 March 2003 | Acapulco, Mexico | Clay | Daniel Nestor | David Ferrer Fernando Vicente | 6–3, 6–3 |
| Win | 27. | 28 April 2003 | Houston, US | Clay | Daniel Nestor | Jan-Michael Gambill Graydon Oliver | 6–4, 6–3 |
| Win | 28. | 19 May 2003 | Hamburg, Germany | Clay | Daniel Nestor | Mahesh Bhupathi Max Mirnyi | 6–4, 7–6 |
| Win | 29. | 16 June 2003 | London/Queen's Club, England | Grass | Daniel Nestor | Mahesh Bhupathi Max Mirnyi | 5–7, 6–4, 7–6 |
| Win | 30. | 27 October 2003 | Basel, Switzerland | Carpet | Daniel Nestor |  Lucas Arnold Ker Mariano Hood | 6–4, 6–2 |
| Win | 31. | 1 March 2004 | Marseille, France | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Martin Damm Cyril Suk | 7–5, 6–3 |
| Win | 32. | 3 May 2004 | Barcelona, Spain | Clay | Daniel Nestor | Mariano Hood Sebastián Prieto | 4–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
| Loss | 23. | 14 June 2004 | London/Queen's Club, England | Grass | Daniel Nestor | Bob Bryan Mike Bryan | 4–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 33. | 9 August 2004 | Cincinnati, US | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Jonas Björkman Todd Woodbridge | 6–2, 3–6, 6–3 |
| Win | 34. | 13 September 2004 | New York, US | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Leander Paes David Rikl | 6–3, 6–3 |
| Win | 35. | 25 October 2004 | Madrid, Spain | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Bob Bryan Mike Bryan | 6–3, 6–4 |
| Loss | 24. | 14 February 2005 | Marseille, France | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Martin Damm Radek Štěpánek | 6–7, 6–7 |
| Win | 36. | 21 March 2005 | Indian Wells, US | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Wayne Arthurs Paul Hanley | 7–6, 7–6 |
| Win | 37. | 25 April 2005 | Houston, US | Clay | Daniel Nestor | Martín García Luis Horna | 6–3, 6–4 |
| Win | 38. | 17 October 2005 | Vienna, Austria | Hard | Daniel Nestor |  Jonathan Erlich Andy Ram | 5–3, 5–4 |
| Win | 39. | 24 October 2005 | Madrid, Spain | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Leander Paes Nenad Zimonjić | 3–6, 6–3, 6–2 |
| Loss | 25. | 7 November 2005 | Paris, France | Carpet | Daniel Nestor | Bob Bryan Mike Bryan | 4–6, 7–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 40. | 6 February 2006 | Delray Beach, US | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Chris Haggard Wesley Moodie | 6–2, 6–3 |
| Loss | 26. | 20 February 2006 | Marseille, France | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Martin Damm Radek Štěpánek | 2–6, 7–6, |
| Loss | 27. | 6 March 2006 | Dubai, UAE | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Paul Hanley Kevin Ullyett | 6–1, 2–6, |
| Win | 41. | 20 March 2006 | Indian Wells, US | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Bob Bryan Mike Bryan | 6–4, 6–4 |
| Win | 42. | 1 May 2006 | Barcelona, Spain | Clay | Daniel Nestor |  Mariusz Fyrstenberg Marcin Matkowski | 6–2, 6–7, |
| Win | 43. | 15 May 2006 | Rome, Italy | Clay | Daniel Nestor | Jonathan Erlich Andy Ram | 6–4, 5–7, |
| Loss | 28. | 22 May 2006 | Hamburg, Germany | Clay | Daniel Nestor | Paul Hanley Kevin Ullyett | 2–6, 6–7 |
| Loss | 29. | 23 October 2006 | Madrid, Spain | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Bob Bryan Mike Bryan | 5–7, 4–6 |
| Win | 44. | 30 October 2006 | Basel, Switzerland | Carpet | Daniel Nestor | Mariusz Fyrstenberg Marcin Matkowski | 4–6, 6–4, |
| Loss | 30. | 20 November 2006 | Shanghai, China | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Jonas Björkman Max Mirnyi | 2–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 31. | 15 January 2007 | Sydney, Australia | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Paul Hanley Kevin Ullyett | 4–6, 7–6, |
| Loss | 32. | 19 February 2007 | Marseille, France | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Arnaud Clément Michaël Llodra | 5–7, 6–4, |
| Loss | 33. | 16 April 2007 | Houston, US | Clay | Daniel Nestor | Bob Bryan Mike Bryan | 6–7, 4–6 |
| Win | 45. | 11 June 2007 | Paris, France | Clay | Daniel Nestor | Lukáš Dlouhý Pavel Vízner | 2–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
| Win | 46. | 17 June 2007 | London/Queen's Club, England | Grass | Daniel Nestor | Bob Bryan Mike Bryan | 7–6, 7–5 |
| Loss | 34. | 28 October 2007 | Basel, Switzerland | Carpet | James Blake | Bob Bryan Mike Bryan | 1–6, 1–6 |
| Win | 47. | 18 November 2007 | Shanghai, China | Hard | Daniel Nestor | Simon Aspelin Julian Knowle | 6–2, 6–3 |
| Win | 48. | 2 March 2008 | Memphis, US | Hard | Mahesh Bhupathi |  Sanchai Ratiwatana Sonchat Ratiwatana | 7–6, 6–2 |
| Win | 49. | 8 March 2008 | Dubai, UAE | Hard | Mahesh Bhupathi | Martin Damm Pavel Vízner | 7–5, 7–6 |
| Loss | 35. | 26 March 2008 | Miami, US | Hard | Mahesh Bhupathi | Bob Bryan Mike Bryan | 2–6, 2–6 |
| Loss | 36. | 27 April 2008 | Monte Carlo, Monaco | Clay | Mahesh Bhupathi | Rafael Nadal Tommy Robredo | 3–6, 3–6 |
| Loss | 37. | 23 August 2008 | New Haven, US | Hard | Mahesh Bhupathi |  Marcelo Melo André Sá | 5–7, 2–6 |
| Loss | 38. | 13 October 2008 | Madrid, Spain | Hard | Mahesh Bhupathi | Mariusz Fyrstenberg Marcin Matkowski | 4–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 50. | 18 October 2008 | Basel, Switzerland | Carpet | Mahesh Bhupathi |  Christopher Kas Philipp Kohlschreiber | 6–3, 6–3 |
| Loss | 39. | 31 January 2009 | Melbourne, Australia | Hard | Mahesh Bhupathi | Bob Bryan Mike Bryan | 6–2, 5–7, 0–6 |
| Win | 51. | 22 February 2009 | Memphis, United States | Hard | Mardy Fish | Travis Parrott Filip Polášek | 7–6, 6–1 |
| Loss | 40. | 26 April 2009 | Barcelona, Spain | Clay | Mahesh Bhupathi | Daniel Nestor Nenad Zimonjić | 3–6, 6–7 |
| Win | 52. | 16 August 2009 | Montréal, Canada | Hard | Mahesh Bhupathi | Max Mirnyi Andy Ram | 6–4, 6–3 |
| Loss | 41. | 13 September 2009 | New York, US | Hard | Mahesh Bhupathi | Lukáš Dlouhý Leander Paes | 6–3, 3–6, 2–6 |
| Loss | 42. | 11 October 2009 | Beijing, China | Hard | Andy Roddick | Bob Bryan Mike Bryan | 4–6, 2–6 |
| Loss | 43. | 25 April 2010 | Barcelona, Spain | Clay | Lleyton Hewitt | Daniel Nestor Nenad Zimonjić | 6–4, 3–6, |
| Win | 53. | 8 August 2010 | Washington, United States | Hard | Mardy Fish | Tomáš Berdych Radek Štěpánek | 4–6, 7–6, |
| Loss | 44. | 14 November 2010 | Paris, France | Hard | Andy Ram | Mahesh Bhupathi Max Mirnyi | 5–7, 5–7 |
| Win | 54. | 31 July 2011 | Los Angeles, United States | Hard |  Xavier Malisse | Somdev Devvarman Treat Conrad Huey | 7–6, 7–6 |
| Win | 55. | 19 February 2012 | San Jose, United States | Hard | Xavier Malisse | Kevin Anderson Frank Moser | 6–4, 1–6, |
Doubles performance timeline
Grand Slam finals
Mixed doubles: 2 (1 title, 1 runner-up)
| Result | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
| Loss | 2002 | French Open | Clay | Elena Bovina | Cara Black Wayne Black | 3–6, 3–6 |
| Win | 2009 | Wimbledon | Grass | Anna-Lena Grönefeld | Cara Black Leander Paes | 7–5, 6–3 |