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
Just to keep me calm, ... I might have been a little too hyper if I was going out there in front of those crowds this week ...
I think it has been blown out of proportion that the grass was meant to make them uncomfortable. It was all about our being comfortable. It's the surface Andy is most comfortable on and I think he's the second best grass court player in the world.
I would like to think I might have taken something out of Andre's legs,
Most of my maturity and my different perspective comes from the last year, The J-Block.
Miami is great. I'm trying to do my best to avoid distractions and get ready for tomorrow.
My serve was the biggest difference today, ... It's good to be playing so well at this time of the year.
My mum especially listens to music in a way that is incredibly feelings-based. There's virtually no snobbery about what sounds are in it, she just wants to hear a song and that is quite refreshing.
My year would have got worse because I would have had a heart attack,
That was an amazing point, ... It shows how well you have to play to get a break to get ahead of him. Those are the kind of points earlier in the year I would have lost earlier in the rally.
I was very excited to be out there. I kind of knew what to expect with what I've been going through the last week and a half, with my friends and family coming out, and I don't think Igor quite did. It hit him pretty quickly and they were pretty vocal. That's just a lot of fun.
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,
It doesn't get better than this, ... If every week were like this I would never retire.
The only thing I don't like about this job is the travelling but here I don't have to. I sleep in my own bed, I have dinner with my mum or my friends and I feel at home on the court too.
To be in the quarterfinals is pretty unexpected for most people. But I didn't feel like it was that absurd to think that I could be here, and hopefully even further.