Tennis: Knowles glad to make Mark with Groenefeld

Published on Monday 6 July 2009 10:09

MARK KNOWLES of the Bahamas and Anna-Lena Groenefeld of Germany won the mixed doubles titles by beating top-seeded Leander Paes of India and Cara Black of Zimbabwe 7-5, 6-3.

Knowles and Groenefeld, who converted four of their ten break points and finished the match with 20 winners, trailed 5-2 in the first set.

"I actually said to Anna on the changeover, 'Let's stay positive'", Knowles said. "We had lost a couple of close games really. We were playing pretty well."

Whatever was said, it worked because Knowles and Groenefeld won the next five games to take the first set.

"I think that attitude helped us turn it around," Knowles said. "We obviously won six or seven or eight games on the trot. I think things started going our way."

Knowles has won men's doubles titles at the other three Grand Slam tournaments, but he had never before won at Wimbledon.

"I've always wanted to win Wimbledon. It's the most important tournament ," Knowles said. "Like everybody, it's the tournament we all look up to. It's extremely special."