James Blake

Su nombre completo es James Riley Blake... Comenzó a jugar tenis a los cinco años con si hermano mayor Thomas (nacido el 29 de diciembre de 1976), un ex All-American de la Universidad de Harvard; su padre Thomas, falleció en julio del 2004 y su madre Betty, quien se educó en Inglaterra… Tiene tres medios hermanos y una media hermana... A los 13 años le diagnosticaron una severa escoliosis (curvatura de la columna) que lo obligó a usar una prótesis removible en la espalda 18 horas al día... Asistió al Fairfield High School con el ganador del Grammy John Mayer y el golfista profesional del PGA Tour J.J. Henry... Los courts de tenis de la escuela fueron rebautizados en honor a Blake en el 2006... Se mudó en 1999 a Tampa, FL, donde entrenó en la academia de Saddlebrook... Arthur Ashe fue su ejemplo a seguir... Se inspiró en el tenis después de que Ashe diera una charla con los niños del programa de tenis juvenil de Harlem cuando James estaba en el programa para jugadores de entre 5 y 10 años... Jugó dos temporadas en Harvard entre 1998 y 1999 para hacerse profesional en junio de 1999... Tiene una marca de 20-9 en Copa Davis (17-8 en singles) en 15 encuentros desde el 2001 y miembro del equipo campeón del 2007... Nombrado el Regreso del Año por el ATP en el 2005... Fue votado para el Consejo de Jugadores ATP del 2006, donde es vicepresidente... En julio del 2007 escribió un libro en coautoría con Andrew Friedman llamado: "Breaking Back: How I Lost Everything and Won Back My Life" y alcanzó el puesto No. 15 en la lista de Best Sellers de Nueva York… Como apoyo al libro, apareció en "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" y en  "The Late Show with David Letterman", además de varios matinales de la TV estadounidense. Tiene un evento de caridad anual llamado AnthemLIVE!, que desde el 2003 ha reunido más de $2.5 millones para la investigación del cáncer... Fundó el Thomas Blake Sr. Memorial Research Fund para apoyar los estuios para la cura del cáncer... Anotó dos home runs en una práctica de bateo el 29 de marzo del 2008 en el Estadio de los Dolphins en Miami (sede de Florida Marlins) y en Houston en abril del 2008... Es entrenado por su mentor de largos años Brian Barker (desde los 12 años) y trabaja con el preparador físico y ex partner de dobles Mark Merklein (11-5 el récord juntos, con dos títulos).

2011 -- The second-oldest American in Top 100 (behind Russell-33) made a strong resurgence (from No. 173 in March) to finish in Top 60…His best result was SF in Stockholm (d. del Potro, l. to Nieminen) and only had 2 1R losses (Wimbledon l. to Baghdatis in 5 sets; Vienna, l. to Garcia-Lopez) in 16 tournaments...Played well in Challengers with an 18-3 mark, winning titles in Sarasota (d. Bogomolov) and Winnetka (d. Reynolds) while runner-up in Sacramento (l. to Karlovic)...

2010 -- The American finished outside Top 100 for first time since ‘00…Reached four QFs during season…Skipped majority of clay season due to a right knee injury…Best Grand Slam was 3rd RD at US Open.

2009 -- Despite finishing out of Top 25 for first time in five years, the American reached ATP World Tour finals on clay and grass…Began year with a 4th RD at Australian Open (l. to Tsonga), SF in San Jose (l. to Fish) and a pair of 3rd RD exits in Indian Wells* and Miami*…In Estoril, reached his second career clay court final, defeating No. 11 Davydenko in SFs in three sets before falling in final to Montanes in three sets (after holding two match points in second set)…Followed with third round in Madrid* (l. to Federer). He reached his second ATP World Tour final of season at Queen’s (d. Roddick in SF, ret.; l. to Murray)…Then lost both rubbers in Davis Cup QF loss to Croatia…Broke a toe during tie which limited him to one hard court tournament before advancing to 3rd RD at US Open (l. to Robredo)…Went 3-4 in final four events, losing each in three sets (twice to No. 2 Nadal, other No. 4 Murray)…In Paris*, defeated Santoro in Frenchman’s last match of his career…Had a 1-6 mark vs. Top 10 opponents and went 14-12 on hard, 6-7 on clay and 4-2 on grass.

2008 -- The No. 2 American (behind Roddick) finished in Top 10 for second time in three years (No. 4 in '06)...Despite not winning an ATP title, turned in a consistent season by reaching two finals, advancing to his third career Grand Slam QF and finishing in fourth place at Beijing Olympics...In first four months, compiled a 23-7 record with runner-up showings at Delray Beach (l. to Nishikori) in February and Houston (l. to Granollers) in April, his first final on clay...At Australian Open, rallied from a two-set deficit in 3rd RD vs. Grosjean to win in five sets before losing to No. 1 Federer in QF...In February-March, made three straight QF appearances in San Jose (l. to Ginepri) and AMS Indian Wells and Miami (l. to Nadal both times)...Helped U.S. to Davis Cup SF by posting wins over France's Mathieu and Gasquet in QF tie...On clay, went 9-7 with final in Houston, QF at AMS Rome (l. to Wawrinka) and 2nd RD at Roland Garros (l. to Gulbis)...On grass, reached SF in Halle (l. to Kohlschreiber) and 2nd RD at Wimbledon (l. to Schuettler in five sets)...Played well in summer hard court circuit with SF at Indianapolis (l. to Tursunov), QF at AMS Toronto (l. to Kiefer) and fourth place at Beijing Olympics where he defeated No. 1 Federer for first time before losing 11-9 in third to Gonzalez...Then fell to Djokovic in bronze medal match...At US Open, fell to long-time friend Fish in 3rd RD, his earliest exit in five years...Took a six-week break before returning in Madrid where he lost in opening round (l. to Simon)...Followed with QF in Basel (l. to Lopez) and SF at AMS Paris (l. to Tsonga)... Compiled marks of 34-15 on hard, 9-7 on clay and 4-2 on grass.

2007 --Captured two ATP titles in five finals...Also helped U.S. to Davis Cup title (d. Russia 4-1) by posting a 5-2 singles mark during year...In final, defeated Youzhny in four sets and Tursunov in dead rubber...In January, repeated title in Sydney (d. Moya)...Followed with a 4th RD at Australian Open (l. to Gonzalez)...Then reached final in Delray Beach (l. to Malisse in three rain-delayed sets)... In Davis Cup QF, won both singles rubbers (d. Robredo, Lopez) in 4-1 U.S. victory...Then advanced to SF in Houston (d. Monaco, l. to Zabaleta)...On grass, reached QF in Halle (l. to Kohlschreiber) and 3rd RD at Wimbledon (l. to Ferrero) for second straight year...Put together his best summer hard court results (17-3) of his career by reaching final in Los Angeles (l. to Stepanek), QF in Indianapolis, 2nd RD at AMS Montreal (withdrew vs. Hewitt to strained stomach muscle), advanced to final at AMS Cincinnati (d. Davydenko, l. to Federer) and won title in New Haven for second time in three years (d. Fish)...En route, saved three match points in 3rd RD win over Calleri...At US Open, reached 4th RD (l. to Haas in fifth set tie-break) after posting his first career five-set victory over Santoro in 2nd RD (1-10 all-time)...In Davis Cup SF vs. Sweden, lost to T. Johansson in four sets in second rubber and beat Aspelin in dead rubber to give U.S. another 4-1 victory...Fired a career-high 508 aces (7.2 average) to finish No. 9 in Ricoh ATP MatchFacts...Went 2-4 vs. Top 10 opponents and compiled records of 41-14 on hard (third-most wins), 6-7 on clay and 4-2 on grass...In doubles, reached final in Basel (w/Knowles), losing to Bryans.

2006 --Compiled a career-best season with five ATP titles on four continents in eight finals...His titles won trailed only Federer (12) and was tied for second with Davydenko and Nadal on ATP circuit...Finished in Top 5 and as No. 1 American for first time, highlighted by reaching season-ending Tennis Masters Cup final in Shanghai (l. to Federer)...Also helped his country to Davis Cup SF (l. to Russia) with 3-3 singles record...In January, won title in Sydney (d. Andreev in a third set tie-break)...Posted first Top 10 win in an ATP final by defeating No. 10 Hewitt in Las Vegas...Broke into Top 10 on Mar. 20 after reaching his first AMS final in Indian Wells (l. to Federer)...Became first African-American to rank in Top 10 since Arthur Ashe on Jan. 21, 1980...Went on to match Ashe's career-best year-end finish of No. 4 (in 1975)...At Queen's, defeated Gimelstob, Ginepri, Monfils and Roddick before falling to in final to Hewitt...Claimed third title of season by defeating Roddick in Indianapolis in a third set tie-break...Played well at US Open with repeat QF result (l. to Federer in four sets), and then won first Asian title in Bangkok (d. Ljubicic)...Followed with repeat title in Stockholm (d. Nieminen), giving him a career-best 11-match winning streak...Went 8-6 vs. Top 10 opponents, defeating No. 2 Nadal (twice), No. 3 Ljubicic, No. 5 Roddick, No. 6 Davydenko (twice), No. 7 Nalbandian and No. 10 Hewitt (lost to Federer four times)...Compiled 47-14 record on hard courts...Surpassed $1 million in a season for first time with career-best $1,894,295...

2005 -- Captured two ATP titles and first year-end finish in Top 25...Also turned in his first Grand Slam QF result at US Open...Ranked as low as No. 210 on Apr. 18 and compiled a 13-15 match record through July before putting together an impressive stretch from August-on with a 21-6 mark...Began his consistent play with a runner-up effort in Washington (l. to Roddick), then three weeks later captured title in New Haven (d. Lopez)...Took momentum into US Open where he defeated No. 2 Nadal in 3rd RD, No. 20 Robredo in 4th RD before losing to eventual finalist Agassi in a fifth set tie-break (after holding a two set lead)... Played on U.S. Davis Cup squad in World Group playoff tie in Belgium and defeated Darcis in dead rubber...In October, earned his first European ATP title in Stockholm (d. Srichaphan)...Earlier in season won back-to-back Challenger titles in May in Tunica, Mississippi (d. Baker) and Forest Hills, N.Y. (d. Vemic)..  

2004 -- At AMS Rome, lost in 1st RD to Novak then slipped during practice session on May 6 while hitting with Ginepri and hit net post, suffering fractured vertebrae in his neck that kept him out of action until July...Came back in Newport and reached 2nd RD...Then fell ill with Zoster, a condition affecting hearing and visionary senses and causing temporary paralysis on one side of his face...Though not completely recovered, played Washington and Delray Beach before ending year early...In March-April, reached QF in Scottsdale, AMS Indian Wells and Houston...In doubles, won titles in San Jose and Houston (w/Fish) and Munich (w/Merklein)..

2003 -- Reached final in Long Island (l. to Srichaphan)...In doubles, won second career title in Scottsdale (w/Merklein)...

2002 -- Went 5-1 in Davis Cup play (3-0 in doubles)...Captured title at Waikoloa Challenger and reached first ATP final in Memphis (l. to Roddick) and later in Newport (l. to Dent)... Breakthrough week came in Washington where he posted wins over Corretja (QF), Agassi (SF) and Srichaphan (F) to become fourth African-American to win an ATP title in Open Era...In doubles, captured first ATP title in Cincinnati (w/T. Martin)...

2001 -- Reached final at Waikoloa Challenger (l. to Roddick)...Advanced to first ATP SF in Newport and later in Tokyo (l. to Hewitt)...Made Davis Cup debut in World Group playoff tie vs. India and won both singles matches...Finished with title at Knoxville Challenger (d. Trifu)...

2000 -- Captured first Challenger titles in Houston (d. Kratochvil) and Rancho Mirage (d. Mamiit)...