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
At the beginning of the year, I probably wouldn't have won a match like this.
At the beginning of the year I had a little spot in my heart that hoped I could earn my way back onto the Davis Cup team and show I can help this team.
At the beginning of the week, I couldn't have dreamed it up any better,
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.
This summer is a little better than last summer, ... I can actually sit here without feeling I am going to fall off the chair. I can actually smile, and, yeah, I definitely feel so much better and I am enjoying it a whole lot. And it does put a few things in perspective and I am just so happy to be playing and now that it is going well and I feel like I'm healthy. I feel like things are starting to go my way, it's such a good feeling.
Now that he's gotten through that, he'll be more of a nightmare for the rest of the guys in the tournament.
Obviously he can do about anything with a tennis racket in his hand. But on a given day, hopefully so can I.
Right now, it stings. But looking back on it, I think it will be a good week.
Maybe we'll be humbled a little bit. I think a lot of us need that, so maybe we'll stop arguing with the umpires.
Last year, watching this on TV, this is kind of what I was dreaming of, playing a night match at the Open again,
My defense has definitely gotten a little better. My serve's gotten a little stronger. I've put on four or five pounds, which I think has helped me make it through the long seasons without getting injured. I think all that combined is turning into me feeling more confident when I play Top 10 players like I did today.
There's no way I would have believed that I'd be playing a legend like Andre Agassi in the quarter-finals on Wednesday at the Open.
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.