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48<br />
JAMES BLAKE (USA)<br />
Birthdate: December 28, 1979 Turned Pro: 1999<br />
Birthplace: Yonkers, New York, USA<br />
Height: 6’1” (1.85m)<br />
Residence: Tampa, Florida, USA<br />
Weight: 183 (83kg)<br />
Career Win-Loss: 331-213<br />
Plays: Right-handed<br />
Career Prize Money: $7,044,262<br />
One-handed backhand<br />
Career Singles Titles/Finalist: 10/14<br />
Career Win-Loss vs. Top 10: 18-50<br />
Highest Singles South African Airways <strong>ATP</strong> Ranking: 4 (November 20, 2006)<br />
Highest <strong>ATP</strong> Doubles Ranking: 31 (March 31, 2003)<br />
YEAR-END SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS <strong>ATP</strong> RANKING HISTORY (WIN-LOSS)<br />
2010:135 (15-17) 2007: 13 (54-24) 2004: 94 (15-13) 2001: 74 (13-9) 1998: 682 (0-1)<br />
2009: 44 (24-21) 2006: 4 (59-25) 2003: 37 (32-26) 2000: 212 (0-4)<br />
2008: 10 (47-24) 2005: 24 (35-21) 2002: 28 (36-24) 1999: 262 (1-4)<br />
2010 HIGHLIGHTS<br />
Prize money: $265,885. Matches won-lost: <strong>ATP</strong>: 15-17 (singles), 6-6 (doubles).<br />
Singles Quarterfinalist: Brisbane, Delray Beach, Los Angeles, Stockholm. Doubles Semifinalist:<br />
Brisbane(w/Roddick), Atlanta(w/Isner).<br />
2010 IN REVIEW<br />
The American finished outside Top 100 for first time since ‘00…Reached four QFs during season…Skipped<br />
majority of clay season due to a right knee injury…Best Grand Slam was 3rd RD at US Open.<br />
CAREER IN REVIEW<br />
Had nine straight Top 100 seasons (‘01–09)…In ’06, had year-end best No. 4 ranking (first African-American to<br />
finish in Top 4 since Arthur Ashe in ‘75)…Won a personal-best 59 matches and five titles…Finalist at Tennis<br />
Masters Cup (l. to No. 1 Federer)…Reached first <strong>ATP</strong> Masters 1000 final in Indian Wells* (l. to Federer) and afterwards<br />
broke into Top 10 for first time on Mar. 20…In ’08, beat No. 1 Federer at Beijing Olympics (l. to Djokovic in<br />
bronze medal match)…In ‘05, Comeback Player of the Year…In May ’04 at Rome, slipped during practice session<br />
on May 6 and hit net post, fracturing vertebrae in his neck that kept him out of action until July…Then fell<br />
ill with Zoster, a condition affecting hearing and visionary senses and causing temporary paralysis on one side<br />
of his face…Tried to play two events, then ended year early…Has a 21-12 career Davis Cup record (18-11 in singles)<br />
in 17 ties since ‘ 01 and member of winning team in ’07…Earned a career-best $1,894,295 in ’06.<br />
CAREER TITLES (10): 2007 – Sydney(H), New Haven(H); 2006 – Sydney(H), Las Vegas(H), Indianapolis(H),<br />
Bangkok(IH), Stockholm(IH); 2005 – New Haven(H), Stockholm(IH); 2002 – Washington(H). FINALIST (14): 2009<br />
– Estoril(CL), London / Queen’s Club(G); 2008 – Delray Beach(H), Houston(CL); 2007 – Delray Beach(H), Los<br />
Angeles(H), Cincinnati*(H); 2006 – Indian Wells*(H), London / Queen’s Club(G), Tennis Masters Cup-<br />
Shanghai(IH); 2005 – Washington(H); 2003 – Long Island(H); 2002 – Memphis(IH), Newport(G).<br />
CAREER DOUBLES TITLES (5). FINALIST (2).<br />
GRAND SLAM HISTORY (Career 5-set record: 4-13)<br />
CAREER 10 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 99<br />
AUS. OPEN 21-9 2ND 4TH QF 4TH 3RD 2ND 4TH 4TH 2ND — —<br />
ROLAND GARROS 6-7 — 1ST 2ND 1ST 3RD 2ND — 2ND 2ND — —<br />
WIMBLEDON 7-8 1ST 1ST 2ND 3RD 3RD 1ST — 2ND 2ND — —<br />
US OPEN 22-10 3RD 3RD 3RD 4TH QF QF — 3RD 3RD 2ND 1ST<br />
BARCLAYS <strong>ATP</strong> WORLD TOUR FINALS HISTORY*<br />
CAREER 06<br />
3-2 RUP<br />
<strong>ATP</strong> WORLD TOUR MASTERS 1000 HISTORY*<br />
CAREER W-L: 73-60<br />
BEST RESULT: RUP (Cincinnati ‘07, Indian Wells ‘06)<br />
DOUBLES (1-0 in finals): CINCINNATI Champion - 2002 (w/ T. Martin)<br />
PERSONAL<br />
Full name is James Riley Blake…Began playing tennis at age five with older brother, Thomas, a former All-<br />
American at Harvard, and his father, Thomas, (passed away in July ‘04) and mother, Betty, who was raised in<br />
England…Has three half-brothers and one-half sister…At 13, diagnosed with severe scoliosis (curvature of<br />
spine), which forced him to wear a back brace 18 hours a day…Attended Fairfield (Conn.) High School along<br />
with GRAMMY Award winner John Mayer and PGA <strong>Tour</strong> pro J.J. Henry…The school renamed its tennis courts in<br />
Blake’s honor in 2006…In 1999 moved to Tampa, Fla. where he trains at Saddlebrook Academy…Lists Arthur<br />
Ashe as role model…Inspired to pursue tennis after Ashe spoke to the Harlem Junior Tennis Program when he<br />
was a student in the program from ages 5-10…Played two seasons at Harvard (‘98–99) before turning pro…<br />
Finished as No. 1 collegiate player in country after his sophomore season despite losing in ‘99 NCAA singles<br />
final to Jeff Morrison of Florida…Voted to <strong>ATP</strong> Player Council in June 2006 and served as Vice President…In July<br />
2007, released book co-authored by Andrew Friedman “Breaking Back: How I Lost Everything and Won Back My<br />
Life” and reached No. 15 on New York Times Best Seller list…Holds annual charity event that since 2003 has<br />
raised more than $3 million for cancer research; past participants have included John Mayer and Boyd Tinsley of<br />
Dave Matthews Band…Founded Thomas Blake Sr. Memorial Research Fund to help support cancer research at<br />
Memorial Sloan-Kettering…Hit home runs in batting practice at Major League Baseball stadiums in Miami and<br />
Houston…Named Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of Year in 2008…Coached by former <strong>ATP</strong> pro Kelly Jones (since<br />
Sept. 2009) after parting ways with long-time mentor Brian Barker (since age 12) after US Open.
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