- Simba French
- 13 hrs ago
- 0
It was a busy weekend at the Baha Mar Racquet Club as several tennis professional players came out and raised funds for the Mark Knowles Children’s Initiative Baha Mar Foundation at the Baha Mar Cup that ran from December 8-10.
During the weekend, $120,000 was raised to help the Baha Mar Foundation and the Mark Knowles Children’s Initiative’s community projects.
President of Baha Mar Graeme Davis said that the event was sold out.
“This is the best event that we’ve had since starting it in 2019. It creates a fabulous experience to have this setting here with this beautiful weather that we are having here today. We were able to get these pros together here at the Baha Mar Resort for an event that raises funds for charity,” Davis said.
There was a pro-am tournament and a pro exhibition and the event ended with a special dinner and awards ceremony on Saturday. On Sunday, there was a kids’ clinic.
Two-time grand slam singles champion Azarenka has known Knowles from when they played together on the circuit. She said it was a no-brainer for her to be a part of the event.
“It is such a great event that Mark has been putting on so I am happy to be here. He has been doing a lot for The Bahamas and continue to do the annual events. Having seen the work he has done with the juniors, that will help the sport grow in The Bahamas,” Azarenka said.
Former professional tennis player Blake has been coming to the Baha Mar Cup from its inception and is a huge supporter with what Knowles is doing for the country. He acknowledged that he likes that Knowles has seen fit to do something for his country as he could have just retired quietly.
“I am always happy to help Mark. Since I have been back, I have connected with the young players and staff at the hotel where the hospitality has always been great. It is a fun group to work and play with. A lot of people can have success and be good in a sport that is so individual and focused on that one star, but it takes a special person to think of a much bigger picture,” Blake said.
One of the top players on the doubles circuit is Austin Krajicek. It was his first time at the event and first time being in The Bahamas in 20 years.
“Mark and I both live in Dallas, Texas, and we became close over the years and he asked me to come out and help out. Any time I am asked to help out with charity events, I am always willing to do that. The pro-am event was fun and it was great to meet people from all over the world who play tennis,” he said.
Davis said it is important to Baha Mar to play a role in the community.
“To be able to create the Baha Mar Cup as a way to raise funds for the local community is exceptional in every way. We continue to do it over the course of the year with our different initiatives like the culinary festival, arts festival and the golf tournament in the spring,” Davis said.
Soaking up the event was Bahamian collegiate tennis players Jacobi Bain, who is at Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA), and Howard University’s Michael Major. Bain said that he loves the atmosphere of the event.
“It has been amazing to be a part of this event for the past couple years as I have gotten to meet a lot of pro players and other people who love the sport. It is great to see one of our best players put this event on and I am also able to get some tips,” Bain said.
Davis said he was happy to be collaborating with a Bahamian legend like Knowles, making a difference in the community.
Since its inception, the Baha Mar Cup has raised over $200,000 in support of the Bahamian tennis community through the Baha Mar Foundation, which has provided support to those affected by the 2019 Hurricane Dorian disaster and the Mark Knowles Children’s Tennis Initiative. Earlier this year, the Baha Mar Resort Foundation spearheaded and completed the newly resurfaced tennis courts at the Tom ‘The Bird’ Grant Sports Complex.