Mark Knowles
Mark Knowles (born 4 September 1971) 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.
Country (sports) | |
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Residence | Nassau, Bahamas |
Born | Nassau, Bahamas | 4 September 1971
Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) |
Turned pro | 1992 |
Retired | 2016 |
Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
Prize money | US$ 7,049,710 |
Singles | |
Career record | 42–77 |
Career titles | 0 |
Highest ranking | No. 96 (24 June 1996) |
Grand Slam Singles results | |
Australian Open | 1R (1994, 1997) |
French Open | 2R (1996) |
Wimbledon | 2R (1992, 1994, 1995, 1996) |
US Open | 2R (1996) |
Doubles | |
Career record | 744–380 |
Career titles | 55 |
Highest ranking | No. 1 (24 June 2002) |
Grand Slam Doubles results | |
Australian Open | W (2002) |
French Open | W (2007) |
Wimbledon | F (2002) |
US Open | W (2004) |
Coaching career | |
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Last updated on: 11 April 2011. |
Men's Doubles | |||||||||
Grand Slam titles: | 3 (with | ||||||||
Titles: | 52 | ||||||||
Grand Slam men's doubles finals (10): | |||||||||
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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(5–7), 6–2, 23–21.[1]
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.[2]
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 (right). 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 (1992-2008) 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,[3] 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.[4]
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)
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Result | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 1. | 2 August 1993 | Montréal, Canada (1) | Hard | 6–4, 7–6 | ||
Loss | 1. | 21 March 1994 | Miami, US | Hard | 6–7, 6–7 | ||
Win | 2. | 19 September 1994 | Bogotá, Colombia | Clay | 6–4, 7–6 | ||
Loss | 2. | 30 January 1995 | Melbourne, Australia | Hard | 3–6, 6–3, 3–6, 2–6 | ||
Win | 3. | 17 April 1995 | Tokyo, Japan | Hard | 6–3, 3–6, 7–6 | ||
Loss | 3. | 14 August 1995 | Cincinnati, US | Hard | 2–6, 0–3, RET | ||
Win | 4. | 21 August 1995 | Indianapolis, US (1) | Hard | 6–4, 6–4 | ||
Win | 5. | 8 January 1996 | Doha, Qatar (1) | Hard | 7–6, 6–3 | ||
Win | 6. | 5 February 1996 | Shanghai, China | Carpet | 4–6, 6–2, 7–6 | ||
Win | 7. | 26 February 1996 | Memphis, US (1) | Hard (i) | 6–4, 7–5 | ||
Loss | 4. | 22 April 1996 | Tokyo, Japan | Hard | 2–6, 3–6 | ||
Win | 8. | 13 May 1996 | Hamburg, Germany (1) | Clay | 6–2, 6–4 | ||
Win | 9. | 12 August 1996 | Cincinnati, US (1) | Hard | 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 | ||
Loss | 5. | 26 August 1996 | Toronto, Canada | Hard | 6–7, 3–6 | ||
Loss | 6. | 17 February 1997 | San Jose, US | Hard (i) | 6–4, 6–7, 5–7 | ||
Win | 10. | 17 March 1997 | Indian Wells, US (1) | Hard | 7–6, 4–6, 7–5 | ||
Loss | 7. | 31 March 1997 | Miami, US | Hard | 7–6, 7–6 | ||
Win | 11. | 19 May 1997 | Rome, Italy (1) | Clay | 6–3, 4–6, 7–5 | ||
Loss | 8. | 8 June 1998 | Paris, France | Clay | 3–6, 6–3, 3–6 | ||
Win | 12. | 17 August 1998 | Cincinnati, US (2) | Hard | 6–1, 2–1, RET | ||
Loss | 9. | 24 August 1998 | Indianapolis, US | Hard | 2–6, 6–7 | ||
Loss | 10. | 14 September 1998 | New York, US | Hard | 6–4, 6–7, 2–6 | ||
Loss | 11. | 22 November 1998 | Hartford, US | Carpet | 4–6, 2–6, 5–7 | ||
Loss | 12. | 8 March 1999 | Scottsdale, US | Hard | 4–6, 7–6(7–4), 3–6 | ||
Win | 13. | 10 January 2000 | Doha, Qatar (2) | Hard | 6–3, 6–4 | ||
Loss | 13. | 17 April 2000 | Atlanta, US | Clay | 3–6, 4–6 | ||
Win | 14. | 27 November 2000 | Stockholm, Sweden | Hard (i) | 6–3, 6–2 | ||
Win | 15. | 8 January 2001 | Doha, Qatar (3) | Hard | 6–3, 6–1 | ||
Win | 16. | 5 March 2001 | San Jose, US | Hard (i) | 6–3, 7–6(7–4) | ||
Win | 17. | 20 August 2001 | Indianapolis, US (2) | Hard | 7–6(7–5), 5–7, 6–4 | ||
Win | 18. | 28 January 2002 | Melbourne, Australia | Hard | 7–6(7–4), 6–3 | ||
Loss | 14. | 25 February 2002 | Rotterdam, Netherlands | Hard (i) | 6–4, 3–6, [4–10] | ||
Win | 19. | 4 March 2002 | Dubai, UAE (1) | Hard | 3–6, 6–3, [13–11] | ||
Loss | 15. | 11 March 2002 | Scottsdale, US | Hard | 5–7, 6–7(6–8) | ||
Win | 20. | 18 March 2002 | Indian Wells, US (2) | Hard | 6–4, 6–4 | ||
Win | 21. | 1 April 2002 | Miami, US | Hard | 6–3, 3–6, 6–1 | ||
Loss | 16. | 10 June 2002 | Paris, France | Clay | 5–7, 4–6 | ||
Win | 22. | 24 June 2002 | Nottingham, England | Grass | 0–6, 7–6(7–3), 6–4 | ||
Loss | 17. | 8 July 2002 | London, England | Grass | 1–6, 2–6, 7–6(9–7), 5–7 | ||
Loss | 18. | 5 August 2002 | Toronto, Canada | Hard | 6–4, 6–7(1–7), 3–6 | ||
Win | 23. | 19 August 2002 | Indianapolis, US (3) | Hard | 7–6(7–4), 6–7(5–7), 6–4 | ||
Loss | 19. | 14 October 2002 | Lyon, France | Carpet | 4–6, 6–3, 6–7(3–7) | ||
Win | 24. | 21 October 2002 | Madrid, Spain (1) | Hard (i) | 6–3, 7–5, 6–0 | ||
Loss | 20. | 28 October 2002 | Basel, Switzerland | Carpet | 6–7(1–7), 5–7 | ||
Loss | 21. | 6 January 2003 | Doha, Qatar | Hard | 4–6, 6–7(8–10) | ||
Loss | 22. | 27 January 2003 | Melbourne, Australia | Hard | 4–6, 6–3, 3–6 | ||
Win | 25. | 24 February 2003 | Memphis, US (2) | Hard (i) | 6–2, 7–6(7–3) | ||
Win | 26. | 3 March 2003 | Acapulco, Mexico | Clay | 6–3, 6–3 | ||
Win | 27. | 28 April 2003 | Houston, US (1) | Clay | 6–4, 6–3 | ||
Win | 28. | 19 May 2003 | Hamburg, Germany (2) | Clay | 6–4, 7–6(12–10) | ||
Win | 29. | 16 June 2003 | London/Queen's Club, England (1) | Grass | 5–7, 6–4, 7–6(7–3) | ||
Win | 30. | 27 October 2003 | Basel, Switzerland (1) | Carpet (i) | 6–4, 6–2 | ||
Win | 31. | 1 March 2004 | Marseille, France | Hard (i) | 7–5, 6–3 | ||
Win | 32. | 3 May 2004 | Barcelona, Spain (1) | Clay | 4–6, 6–3, 6–4 | ||
Loss | 23. | 14 June 2004 | London/Queen's Club, England | Grass | 4–6, 4–6 | ||
Win | 33. | 9 August 2004 | Cincinnati, US (3) | Hard | 6–2, 3–6, 6–3 | ||
Win | 34. | 13 September 2004 | New York, US | Hard | 6–3, 6–3 | ||
Win | 35. | 25 October 2004 | Madrid, Spain (2) | Hard (i) | 6–3, 6–4 | ||
Loss | 24. | 14 February 2005 | Marseille, France | Hard (i) | 6–7(4–7), 6–7(5–7) | ||
Win | 36. | 21 March 2005 | Indian Wells, US (3) | Hard | 7–6(8–6), 7–6(7–2) | ||
Win | 37. | 25 April 2005 | Houston, US (2) | Clay | 6–3, 6–4 | ||
Win | 38. | 17 October 2005 | Vienna, Austria | Hard (i) | 5–3, 5–4(5–2) | ||
Win | 39. | 24 October 2005 | Madrid, Spain (3) | Hard (i) | 3–6, 6–3, 6–2 | ||
Loss | 25. | 7 November 2005 | Paris, France | Carpet | 4–6, 7–6(7–3), 4–6 | ||
Win | 40. | 6 February 2006 | Delray Beach, US | Hard | 6–2, 6–3 | ||
Loss | 26. | 20 February 2006 | Marseille, France | Hard (i) | 2–6, 7–6(7–4), [3–10] | ||
Loss | 27. | 6 March 2006 | Dubai, UAE | Hard | 6–1, 2–6, [1–10] | ||
Win | 41. | 20 March 2006 | Indian Wells, US (4) | Hard | 6–4, 6–4 | ||
Win | 42. | 1 May 2006 | Barcelona, Spain (2) | Clay | 6–2, 6–7(4–7), [10–5] | ||
Win | 43. | 15 May 2006 | Rome, Italy (2) | Clay | 6–4, 5–7, [13–11] | ||
Loss | 28. | 22 May 2006 | Hamburg, Germany | Clay | 2–6, 6–7(8–10) | ||
Loss | 29. | 23 October 2006 | Madrid, Spain | Hard (i) | 5–7, 4–6 | ||
Win | 44. | 30 October 2006 | Basel, Switzerland (2) | Carpet (i) | 4–6, 6–4, [10–8] | ||
Loss | 30. | 20 November 2006 | Shanghai, China | Hard (i) | 2–6, 4–6 | ||
Loss | 31. | 15 January 2007 | Sydney, Australia | Hard | 4–6, 7–6(7–3), [6–10] | ||
Loss | 32. | 19 February 2007 | Marseille, France | Hard (i) | 5–7, 6–4, [8–10] | ||
Loss | 33. | 16 April 2007 | Houston, US | Clay | 6–7(3–7), 4–6 | ||
Win | 45. | 11 June 2007 | Paris, France | Clay | 2–6, 6–3, 6–4 | ||
Win | 46. | 17 June 2007 | London/Queen's Club, England (2) | Grass | 7–6(7–4), 7–5 | ||
Loss | 34. | 28 October 2007 | Basel, Switzerland | Carpet | 1–6, 1–6 | ||
Win | 47. | 18 November 2007 | Shanghai, China | Hard (i) | 6–2, 6–3 | ||
Win | 48. | 2 March 2008 | Memphis, US (3) | Hard (i) | 7–6(7–5), 6–2 | ||
Win | 49. | 8 March 2008 | Dubai, UAE (2) | Hard | 7–5, 7–6(9–7) | ||
Loss | 35. | 26 March 2008 | Miami, US | Hard | 2–6, 2–6 | ||
Loss | 36. | 27 April 2008 | Monte Carlo, Monaco | Clay | 3–6, 3–6 | ||
Loss | 37. | 23 August 2008 | New Haven, US | Hard | 5–7, 2–6 | ||
Loss | 38. | 13 October 2008 | Madrid, Spain | Hard (i) | 4–6, 2–6 | ||
Win | 50. | 18 October 2008 | Basel, Switzerland (3) | Carpet | 6–3, 6–3 | ||
Loss | 39. | 31 January 2009 | Melbourne, Australia | Hard | 6–2, 5–7, 0–6 | ||
Win | 51. | 22 February 2009 | Memphis, United States (4) | Hard (i) | 7–6(9–7), 6–1 | ||
Loss | 40. | 26 April 2009 | Barcelona, Spain | Clay | 3–6, 6–7(9–11) | ||
Win | 52. | 16 August 2009 | Montréal, Canada (2) | Hard | 6–4, 6–3 | ||
Loss | 41. | 13 September 2009 | New York, US | Hard | 6–3, 3–6, 2–6 | ||
Loss | 42. | 11 October 2009 | Beijing, China | Hard | 4–6, 2–6 | ||
Loss | 43. | 25 April 2010 | Barcelona, Spain | Clay | 6–4, 3–6, [6–10] | ||
Win | 53. | 8 August 2010 | Washington, United States | Hard | 4–6, 7–6(9–7), [10–7] | ||
Loss | 44. | 14 November 2010 | Paris, France | Hard (i) | 5–7, 5–7 | ||
Win | 54. | 31 July 2011 | Los Angeles, United States | Hard | 7–6(7–3), 7–6(12–10) | ||
Win | 55. | 19 February 2012 | San Jose, United States | Hard (i) | 6–4, 1–6, [10–5] |
Doubles performance timeline
Tournament | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | SR | W–L | |||
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Grand slam tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Australian Open | A | A | 2R | 1R | F | QF | QF | 1R | 2R | 1R | 2R | W | F | QF | 1R | 1R | SF | SF | F | A | 2R | A | A | 1 / 18 | 42–17 | |||
French Open | A | A | A | A | 3R | 2R | 2R | F | 2R | 1R | 3R | F | 3R | QF | SF | 2R | W | 1R | 3R | 2R | 1R | 3R | A | 1 / 18 | 39–16 | |||
Wimbledon | A | 2R | QF | 2R | SF | 3R | 3R | 3R | SF | 3R | 3R | F | QF | SF | QF | SF | QF | 1R | QF | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 0 / 22 | 45–22 | |||
US Open | A | A | 1R | SF | QF | 1R | A | F | 1R | 1R | QF | QF | SF | W | 1R | 3R | QF | 3R | F | 3R | 3R | 1R | A | 1 / 19 | 44–18 | |||
Win–Loss | 0–0 | 1–1 | 4–3 | 5–3 | 14–4 | 6–4 | 6–3 | 12–4 | 5–3 | 2–4 | 8–4 | 19–3 | 14–4 | 16–3 | 7–4 | 7–4 | 16–3 | 6–4 | 15–4 | 3–3 | 3–4 | 2–3 | 0–1 | 3 / 77 | 171–73 | |||
Olympics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Olympics | NH | 1R | Not Held | 2R | Not Held | QF | Not Held | 1R | Not Held | 1R | Not Held | A | NH | 0 / 5 | 3–5 | |||||||||||||
Year End Championships | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tour Finals | A | A | A | A | RR | RR | RR | F | A | SF | A | NH | SF | SF | RR | F | W | RR | SF | A | A | A | A | 1 / 12 | 22–22 | |||
Masters Tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Indian Wells | A | A | A | 1R | 2R | 1R | W | 2R | 2R | 1R | 1R | W | QF | SF | W | W | 1R | QF | 2R | A | QF | 1R | A | 4 / 18 | 34–14 | |||
Miami | A | A | 1R | F | QF | SF | F | SF | 2R | 2R | SF | W | QF | SF | SF | 1R | QF | F | 1R | 1R | A | 1R | A | 1 / 19 | 38–18 | |||
Monte Carlo | A | A | A | 1R | A | A | A | A | QF | 2R | 1R | QF | 2R | SF | QF | 2R | 2R | F | QF | QF | A | A | A | 0 / 13 | 11–13 | |||
Rome | A | A | A | 1R | 1R | 1R | W | 1R | QF | 1R | 1R | QF | QF | QF | QF | W | SF | 2R | SF | 2R | 2R | A | A | 2 / 18 | 22–16 | |||
Madrid | A | A | A | 1R | 2R | 2R | QF | 2R | 1R | A | 1R | W | QF | W | W | F | 2R | F | 2R | 2R | 1R | A | A | 3 / 17 | 20–14 | |||
Canada | A | A | W | SF | 2R | F | 2R | QF | 2R | QF | 2R | F | 2R | SF | QF | SF | QF | QF | W | 2R | 1R | 1R | A | 2 / 20 | 32–18 | |||
Cincinnati | A | A | 2R | A | F | W | A | W | SF | 1R | 1R | QF | SF | W | SF | QF | QF | SF | SF | QF | 1R | A | A | 3 / 17 | 32–14 | |||
Shanghai | Not Held | SF | 1R | 1R | A | A | 0 / 3 | 2–3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Paris | A | A | A | 2R | QF | QF | QF | SF | SF | A | 2R | QF | SF | QF | F | QF | 2R | 2R | 2R | F | 1R | A | A | 0 / 17 | 22–17 | |||
Hamburg | A | A | A | A | 1R | W | 2R | QF | QF | 2R | SF | QF | W | QF | QF | F | 2R | 2R | NME | 2 / 14 | 21–12 | |||||||
Win–Loss | 0–0 | 0–0 | 6–2 | 9–7 | 9–8 | 15–6 | 16–5 | 14–7 | 9–9 | 4–7 | 11–9 | 26–6 | 13–8 | 21–7 | 20–7 | 19–7 | 6–9 | 12–9 | 12–8 | 8–8 | 3–7 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 17 / 156 | 234–139 | |||
Ranking | 534 | 139 | 63 | 30 | 7 | 7 | 19 | 9 | 35 | 48 | 19 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 25 | 58 | 127 | - | 2014: 702, 2015: 1198 |
Grand Slam finals
Mixed doubles: 2 (1 title, 1 runner-up)
Result | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 2002 | French Open | Clay | 3–6, 3–6 | ||
Win | 2009 | Wimbledon | Grass | 7–5, 6–3 |
References
- Preston, Eleanor (6 July 2006). "Nestor and Knowles win longest match in history". theguardian.com. The Guardian. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
- Tennis Masters Cup (8 October 2007). "Knowles & Nestor Part as Masters Cup Champions". Tennis Masters Cup. Archived from the original on 19 November 2007. Retrieved 8 October 2007.
- "Mark Knowles Retirement". Retrieved 8 September 2012.
- "Britain's Delgado plays 23rd straight Wimbledon to set record". 25 June 2014.