Photo Credit: MarkDaCunha.com

“ANDY RODDICK TO PARTICIPATE IN TENNIS EXHIBITION at 3 p.m. on Saturday 3rd December  at the Atlantis Tennis Centre.”

His full name is Andrew Stephen Roddick…Nicknamed “A-Rod”. Three-time Wimbledon finalist Andy Roddick needs no introduction to tennis fans. His achievements include: 30 ATP singles titles and 2003 U.S.Open title.

Ask any tennis fan what the staples of the American’s game are and two answers come back: His fearsome serve, hailed as one of the greatest in the history of the game and his fiercely competitive nature.

Following the Agassi-Sampras glory years, Andy Roddick has been the torchbearer for American tennis in an era dominated by two Europeans, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. Andy is clearly one of the best of his generation. He won the US Open in 2003 and that year finished at World No. 1. In 2007, he fulfilled a life-long dream of winning the Davis Cup.

In 2009, Andy contested one of the greatest ever Wimbledon finals. For four hours and 16 minutes against Roger Federer, Andy led his supporters on a rollercoaster of emotions. He had a two-set lead on his racquet in the second set tiebreak, but a haunting backhand volley error reprieved Federer. In a phenomenal serving display, Andy did not lose serve until the final game of the match as Federer clinched victory 16-14 in the 95-minute fifth set.

Andy states that the proudest achievement of his tennis career is his consistency. The Texan has finished in the year-end Top 10 for nine consecutive years (2002-2010), placing him ninth on the All-Time Top 10 Finishes list. Among active players, only Roger Federer can boast such a record.

There has been success for Andy away from the court, too; in April 2009, he tied the knot with model and actress Brooklyn Decker and they have made their home in Austin, Texas.

His Foundation has raised more than $10 million for charities and children in need since its inception in 2001. Celebrities such as Elton John, Lionel Richie, Cindy Crawford and Donna Summer support it. The new Andy Roddick Youth tennis program in San Antonio, Texas assists 150 disadvantaged children, plus providing four elementary scholarships to private schools and three university scholarships.

Andy won the 2004 ATP Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award.

Featured in People Magazine’s 2006 “Sexiest Man Alive” issue…In May 2006, named on President George W. Bush’s President’s Council of Sports and Fitness.

Andy hosted the comedy program Saturday Night Live on November 8, 2003, becoming only the second tennis player (Chris Evert) to do so.

The Mark Knowles Celebrity Tennis Invitational is scheduled for 1-4 December 2011 at the Atlantis Resort & Casino with MDC-Partners as the Presenting Sposor, and organized by the Mark Knowles Management Group (MKMG).

 

The Mark Knowles Celebrity Invitational was established in 2001, its mission to raise funds supporting a range of local children’s charities on the islands. Past beneficiaries have included The Sassoon Pediatric Heart Foundation, The Cancer Society, The Association of the Physically Disabled, The Children’s Emergency Hospital, The Boy Scouts of Bahamas, The Special Olympics; scholarships for promising junior tennis players and academic scholarships for disadvantaged children.

Through the generous support of sponsors, fellow tennis players and of course, the fans, proceeds have saved lives and provided important opportunities for a number of individuals.  2010 marked the tenth anniversary of the event and pushed total contributions to over $650,000.

Proceeds enabled Knowles to endow a local hospital with its first children’s heart defibrillator – in the past, child cardiac arrest patients had to rely on the usage of an adult defibrillator. Previous projects have included emergency heart surgery for a baby girl, 12 days in age; the remodeling of cancer recovery rooms; and funding for a Special Olympics tennis player, who recently won a medal at the World Games.

Knowles’ dedication to philanthropy, his generosity and effort is also discerned by the appreciation of aid recipients – donations to The Bahamas Cancer Caring Centre have been so considerable that the facility honored his work by creating, “The Mark Knowles Room.”

MDC-Partners return as the Presenting Sponsor for the second consecutive year.

They join the prestigious list of sponsors, many of whom have been supporting the event since its inception, including Atlantis Resort & Casino; The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism; Pictet Bank & Trust; Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch Private Bank & Trust; American Airlines; Odyssey Aviation; Everkey Global Fund; Templeton Global Advisors; H3O;  H.G.Christie; The Ministry of Youth Sports & Culture; The Bahamas Weekly; The Balmoral, and the Bank of the Bahamas

There are a few sponsorship opportunities still available and interested parties should contact Vicky Andrews at vickyk@batelnet.bs or cell: 242-357-9670.