By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

When Mark ‘Knowlzee’ Knowles returns home on November 17, the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association intends to roll out the red carpet as they honour the national icon for his distinguished 20-plus years on the International Tennis Federation (ITF) men’s circuit.

Bradley Bain, speaking on behalf of the association headed by Derron Donaldson, confirmed that while they are preparing a commemorative souvenir supplement, there will be a welcome reception at the Lynden Pindling International Airport that will conclude with a special function at the National Tennis Center.

“We hope to have a number of government dignitaries on hand to give their congratulatory remarks,” Bain said. “That will be followed by a motorcade to the National Tennis Center where we are creating a number of mini tennis courts that we will be naming in Mark’s honour.”

Knowles, 41, officially retired from the ITF in August after he and Xavier Malisse got eliminated in the first round of the US Open men’s doubles in Flushing Meadows, New York.

The 6-foot, 3-inch right-hander, who turned pro in 1992, has won all four Grand Slam titles - US Open, Wimbledon, French Open and Australian Open - either in doubles or mixed doubles.

Bain said the BLTA is very proud of Knowles’ achievement and is looking forward to honouring him when he returns home to prepare for his annual Mark Knowles Celebrity Tennis Invitational that was started in 2001. This year’s event is set for December 6-9 at the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island.

Having started playing tennis at the age of four under the supervision of his parents Sammy Knowles and Vickie Andrews, before he was invited to train at Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Florida, Bain said it’s the ideal situation to name the mini tennis courts in Knowles’ name.

“We are putting down a number of mini tennis courts to cater to the young tennis players to help make the game easier for them to play the game,” Bain said. “They will play on mini nets with smaller balls, which makes it easier for them to play. So this is good for us to name in honour of Mark Knowles, who made a remarkable transition from the junior ranks to the professional ranks.”

It’s anticipated that the BLTA, through the support of the Bahamas government, will be constructing about 5-6 courts that they will be naming after Knowles. If they are not ready by the time Knowles returns home, Bain said they at least will have gotten it started. He anticipates that the courts will be completed by the end of the year.

“The foundations will be laid by November 17 and we hope to line the courts and have everything completed so that we can start the play and mini tennis programme early next year,” Bain said. “We are excited to do this in honour of Mark Knowles. He has been a role model for our young tennis players to emulate.”

During that tenure, Knowles has achieved the following:

• Three-time men’s doubles Grand Slam champion

• Achieved No. 1 ranking in doubles in 2002

• Five-time Olympian for the Bahamas (‘92, ‘96, ‘00, ‘04 and ‘08)

• Winner of 55 career doubles titles

• Captured the 2009 Wimbledon mixed doubles crown

• Masters Cup Champion in 2007

• Finished as year-end doubles No. 1 in 2002 and 2004

• All-American in singles and doubles at UCLA

“We are very pleased to honour Mark Knowles,” Bain said. “He’s had an incredible career and we don’t think that his achievement should go un-noticed.”