KNOWLES AND BHUPATHI (AP)

Published On:Monday, November 30, 2009

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

After roaming the ATP Tennis Tour as the third best team in the world this year, Mark Knowles and his Indian doubles partner Mahesh Bhupathi have abandoned their two-year partnership.

The break-up came at the conclusion of the Barclays ATP World Tour Doubles Championship in London, England, where they were unable to surpass their rankings and seeding.

They did, however, advance to the semifinal at the O2 Stadium where they got eliminated by American identical twin brothers Bob and Mike Bryan, who went on to win the title and eventually overtake Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic for their fifth year-ending No.1 ATP ranking.

"Obviously we had a great start to the match, got an early break, but unfortunately Mahesh was sick in bed for the past two days with the flu," said Knowles.

"They were able to win the first set, but after we had some chances in the second set, they broke Mahesh again in the last game. So they played a good solid game. We just didn't get over the hump. We were hit with a curve ball due to Mahesh's health. But they are a great team."

Although they felt they too had a great partnership, Knowles and Bhupathi, who only won one tournament this year but were in the final of both the Australian and the US Open where they lost to the Bryans and the team of Lukas Dlouhy and Leander Paes respectively, are calling it quits.

And Knowles noted that just as painful as the loss was, it's even more disappointing that they have to sever their tie together.

"After we lost at the US Open, we decided that we had a great year, but it will probably be better for us to move on and play with somebody else," Knowles said.

"We had a relatively good two years, but we fell short of our goals. After losing the US Open final, we just felt that at this stage in our career, we should move on if we're not going to be able to win the Grand Slams."

While Knowles, 38, will now team up with American Mardy Fish, who he won Regions Morgan Keegan Championship title in Memphis, Tennessee, in February, Bhupathi will pair up with Max Mirnyi next year.

"I think it's going to be a good upside because he's a great singles player who wants to make his mark in doubles," Knowles said. "So I think it's going to be a really great future. I'm looking forward to it."

Injury

Fish, still nursing a slight injury, is expected to play his first match with Knowles in a new partnership starting on January 11 when they travel to Sidney, Australia, to compete in the Medibank International.

The tournament is a prelude to the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year. Knowles won the title there in 2002 with Daniel Nestor, whom he broke up more than an 11-year partnership in 2007.

"His biggest concern is his health and getting back to 100 per cent," Knowles pointed out. "Hopefully he's fit, health-wise, to play when we get started next year. That's our biggest concern right now."

Knowles is expected to arrive home today as he continues his preparation for the hosting of his ninth annual Celebrity Invitational this weekend at the National Tennis Centre.

"Now it's time to put the rackets down and look forward to the charity event where I'm making a difference in the community," he stated.

"We have a great event planned for this year and so I'm really excited about it. I'm excited about coming home and second of all, I'm really excited about the event."