James Blake

James Blake is an American former professional tennis player who won 10 singles titles on the ATP Tour and achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 4. His career highlights include reaching the final of the 2006 Tennis Masters Cup and the semifinals of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

He was also a key player for the victorious United States Davis Cup team in 2007 and won the Hopman Cup twice.

Player Profile and Personal Life

James Riley Blake was born on December 28, 1979, in Yonkers, New York, USA. He stands 185 cm tall and he plays right-handed with a one-handed backhand. He currently resides in Westport, Connecticut.

In 2004, Blake suffered a significant setback when he fractured a vertebra in a training accident. His journey of recovery was chronicled in his autobiography, "Breaking Back: How I Lost Everything and Won Back My Life," which became a New York Times Best Seller.

For his remarkable return to the tour in 2005, he was honored with the Comeback Player of the Year award. Later, in 2008, he was named the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year.

Professional Career

Blake turned professional in 1999. He won 10 singles titles on the ATP Tour and reached a career-high singles ranking of World No. 4 in November 2006. His career was marked by his aggressive style and significant wins against top-ranked opponents.

His major highlights include reaching the final of the 2006 Tennis Masters Cup, where he defeated World No. 1 Roger Federer, and the semifinals of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he again defeated Federer.

Blake reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open in 2008 and the US Open in 2005 and 2006.

He was a key performer for the victorious United States Davis Cup team in 2007, winning both his matches in the championship tie against Russia. He also won the Hopman Cup with the US team in 2003 and 2004. Blake retired from professional tennis at the US Open in 2013, with his final singles match being a five-set defeat to Ivo Karlović.

Philanthropy

In 2008, Blake established The James Blake Foundation to invest in cancer research.

The foundation's efforts include hosting "Anthem Live!", a charity tennis exhibition and musical event. In memory of his father, who died from gastric cancer in 2004, Blake also established the Thomas Blake Sr. Memorial Research Fund to support cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Career Record

Singles

• Career record: 366–256
• Career titles: 10
• Highest ranking: No. 4 (November 20, 2006)

Best Grand Slam Singles Performances

• Australian Open – QF (2008)
• French Open – 3R (2006)
• Wimbledon – 3R (2006, 2007)
• US Open – QF (2005, 2006)

Other tournaments (Singles)

• Tour Finals – F (2006)
• Olympic Games – SF – 4th (2008)

Doubles

• Career record: 132–121
• Career titles: 7
• Highest ranking: No. 31 (March 31, 2003)

Best Grand Slam Doubles Performances

• Australian Open – QF (2005)
• French Open – 2R (2002)
• Wimbledon – SF (2009)
• US Open – 2R (2000, 2001)

Team competitions

• Davis Cup – W (2007)
• Hopman Cup – W (2003, 2004)