Mario Tabares completed a 2011 gold slam, winning the indoors, clay, grass and finally the hard court singles titles in the men’s 45 and over singles divisions in a calendar year. He is 26-0 for the year (he also won a Super Category II, the Atlanta Invitational). He lost two sets in those 26 matches (both by 7-6 scores) and losing a set must make him mad (or more determined)…he won the subsequent set 60 each time. In addition to winning the singles gold slam, Tabares won the Grass doubles title and is currently ranked #1 in 45 singles and doubles in the USA. He is the defending world champion in men’s 40 singles and 35 doubles.

Tabares is a Cuban native but a US citizen. He played on the Cuban Davis Cup team 16 times. He won one doubles title on the ATP tour.