James Blake
James Blake
James Riley Blakeis an American retired professional tennis player. Blake is known for his speed and powerful, flat forehand. During his career, Blake had amassed 24 singles finals appearances, while his career-high singles ranking was World No. 4. His career highlights included reaching the final of the 2006 Tennis Masters Cup, the semifinals of the Beijing Olympics and the quarterfinals of the Australian Openand US Open, as well as being the former American No. 1. His two titles for the...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionTennis Player
Date of Birth28 December 1979
CountryUnited States of America
It was tough to watch. I kept thinking, 'I wonder how I'd be doing if I was there.' Now this year to go out there, it's just a great feeling.
At the beginning of the year, I probably wouldn't have won a match like this.
I think my friends are definitely going to be here. But I know he's got fans all over the world, especially here. He's won here. I mean, he's such a legend,
He's a guy that I'm never going to count out, ... It's so amazing to me how many people write or ask him the question when he's going to retire. You don't see that happen too much with a guy that's top 10 in the world and has won tournaments. Why should he retire if he's enjoying it, and he's still the biggest name, the biggest draw in tennis?
I don't want respect just because I'm in the Nike ad or just because I've got some sort of endorsement deal, ... I want people to look at me as a tennis player, as a legitimate player that's won a lot of matches. I'm doing my part these last couple days to prove that to them.
I know I'm not in a Hollywood script, otherwise I probably would have won a lot more this year. I've always known I had a chance to go deep in a major or go and win a tournament and play with these guys because I can put together a good set here, a good match there. I don't think of it as fate or anything. I think it's a lot of hard work.
We weren't sure if I was ever really going to be back to a 100 percent, if I was ever going to be back to this level again. I said whatever tournament I win, the next Grand Slam, you have to wear a gold tooth for the whole time I'm in the tournament.
I've never seen that called in my career.
I've never played well in Europe before but it's been great so far,
I've never played well in Europe before and it feels like I'm home again. I love it here. It's been great so far.
It was very important to me because half the tour is in Europe, ... I'm excited and it gives me confidence to know that I can win here. This is the first time I've had success in the European season. Other times I've kind of made my rankings just on the U.S. season and maybe down in Australia a little bit.
It was tough conditions, I wanted to get ahead early but I couldn't quite do that. But I came through at the end of each set.
I served very well, and once you get rolling with one part of your game the rest of it follows, so it's a good feeling.
I've been really trying to hone the art of songwriting in a way that doesn't follow any sort of guideline.