Full name is James Riley Blake...Began playing tennis at age five with older brother, Thomas (born Dec. 29, 1976), a former All-American at Harvard University, and his father, Thomas, who passed away in July 2004 and mother, Betty, who was raised in England...Also has three half-brothers and one-half sister...At age 13, was diagnosed with severe scoliosis (curvature of spine), which forced him to wear a back brace 18 hours a day... Attended Fairfield (Conn.) High School along with Grammy Award winner John Mayer and PGA Tour pro J.J. Henry...The school renamed its tennis courts in Blake's honor in 2006.
Moved in 1999 to Tampa, Fla. where he trains at Saddlebrook Academy...Lists Arthur Ashe as his role model...Was inspired to pursue tennis after Ashe spoke to the Harlem Junior Tennis Program when he was a student in the program from ages 5-10...Played two seasons at Harvard from 1998-99 before turning pro in June ‘99...Finished as No. 1 collegiate player in country after his sophomore season despite losing in ‘99 NCAA singles final to Jeff Morrison of Florida...Has a 21-12 career Davis Cup record (18-11 in singles) in 17 ties since 2001 and member of winning team in 2007.
Signed with IMG Models in 2002...Had 10-page pictorial in GQ in 2003...Named 2005 ATP Comeback Player of Year...Nominated for ESPN’s 2005 “ESPY” Award for Comeback Player of the Year...In People Magazine’s 2006-2007 “Sexiest Man Alive” issue...Voted to ATP Player Council in June 2006 and serves as Vice President...In July 2007, released book co-authored by Andrew Friedman "Breaking Back: How I Lost Everything and Won Back My Life" and reached 15th on New York Times Best Seller list...In support of the book, appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and "The Late Show with David Letterman" as well as several US morning shows.
Holds an annual charity event, AnthemLIVE!, which since 2003 has raised more than $2.5 million for cancer research and past participants have included John Mayer and Boyd Tinsley of Dave Matthews Band...Founded Thomas Blake Sr. Memorial Research Fund to help support cancer research...Hit two home runs in batting practice on Mar. 29, 2008 in Dolphin Stadium in Miami (home of Florida Marlins) and in Houston in April 2008...Named Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of Year recipient in 2008...Coached by former ATP pro Kelly Jones (since September 2009) after parting ways with long-time mentor Brian Barker (since age 12) after US Open.
2009 -- Despite finishing out of Top 25 for first time in five years, the American reached ATP World Tour finals on clay and grass…Began year with a 4th RD at Australian Open (l. to Tsonga), SF in San Jose (l. to Fish) and a pair of 3rd RD exits in Indian Wells* and Miami*…In Estoril, reached his second career clay court final, defeating No. 11 Davydenko in SFs in three sets before falling in final to Montanes in three sets (after holding two match points in second set)…Followed with third round in Madrid* (l. to Federer).
He reached his second ATP World Tour final of season at Queen’s (d. Roddick in SF, ret.; l. to Murray)…Then lost both rubbers in Davis Cup QF loss to Croatia…Broke a toe during tie which limited him to one hard court tournament before advancing to 3rd RD at US Open (l. to Robredo)…Went 3-4 in final four events, losing each in three sets (twice to No. 2 Nadal, other No. 4 Murray)…In Paris*, defeated Santoro in Frenchman’s last match of his career…Had a 1-6 mark vs. Top 10 opponents and went 14-12 on hard, 6-7 on clay and 4-2 on grass.
2008 -- The No. 2 American (behind Roddick) finished in Top 10 for second time in three years (No. 4 in '06)...Despite not winning an ATP title, turned in a consistent season by reaching two finals, advancing to his third career Grand Slam QF and finishing in fourth place at Beijing Olympics...In first four months, compiled a 23-7 record with runner-up showings at Delray Beach (l. to Nishikori)
in February and Houston (l. to Granollers) in April, his first final on clay...At Australian Open, rallied from a two-set deficit in 3rd RD vs. Grosjean to win in five sets before losing to No. 1 Federer in QF...In February-March, made three straight QF appearances in San Jose (l. to Ginepri) and AMS Indian Wells and Miami (l. to Nadal both times)...Helped U.S. to Davis Cup SF by posting wins over France's Mathieu and Gasquet in QF tie...On clay, went 9-7 with final in Houston, QF at AMS Rome (l. to Wawrinka) and 2nd RD at Roland Garros (l. to Gulbis)...On grass, reached SF in Halle (l. to Kohlschreiber) and 2nd RD at Wimbledon (l. to Schuettler in five sets)...
Played well in summer hard court circuit with SF at Indianapolis (l. to Tursunov), QF at AMS Toronto (l. to Kiefer) and fourth place at Beijing Olympics where he defeated No. 1 Federer for first time before losing 11-9 in third to Gonzalez...Then fell to Djokovic in bronze medal match...At US Open, fell to long-time friend Fish in 3rd RD, his earliest exit in five years...Took a six-week break before returning in Madrid where he lost in opening round (l. to Simon)...Followed with QF in Basel (l. to Lopez) and SF at AMS Paris (l. to Tsonga)... Compiled marks of 34-15 on hard, 9-7 on clay and 4-2 on grass.
2007 --Captured two ATP titles in five finals...Also helped U.S. to Davis Cup title (d. Russia 4-1) by posting a 5-2 singles mark during year...In final, defeated Youzhny in four sets and Tursunov in dead rubber...In January, repeated title in Sydney (d. Moya)...Followed with a 4th RD at Australian Open (l. to Gonzalez)...Then reached final in Delray Beach (l. to Malisse in three rain-delayed sets)... In Davis Cup QF, won both singles rubbers (d. Robredo, Lopez) in 4-1 U.S. victory...Then advanced to SF in Houston (d. Monaco, l. to Zabaleta)...
On grass, reached QF in Halle (l. to Kohlschreiber) and 3rd RD at Wimbledon (l. to Ferrero) for second straight year...Put together his best summer hard court results (17-3) of his career by reaching final in Los Angeles (l. to Stepanek), QF in Indianapolis, 2nd RD at AMS Montreal (withdrew vs. Hewitt to strained stomach muscle), advanced to final at AMS Cincinnati (d. Davydenko, l. to Federer) and won title in New Haven for second time in three years (d. Fish)...En route, saved three match points in 3rd RD win over Calleri...At US Open, reached 4th RD (l. to Haas in fifth set tie-break) after posting his first career five-set victory over Santoro in 2nd RD (1-10 all-time)...
In Davis Cup SF vs. Sweden, lost to T. Johansson in four sets in second rubber and beat Aspelin in dead rubber to give U.S. another 4-1 victory...Fired a career-high 508 aces (7.2 average) to finish No. 9 in Ricoh ATP MatchFacts...Went 2-4 vs. Top 10 opponents and compiled records of 41-14 on hard (third-most wins), 6-7 on clay and 4-2 on grass...In doubles, reached final in Basel (w/Knowles), losing to Bryans.
2006 --Compiled a career-best season with five ATP titles on four continents in eight finals...His titles won trailed only Federer (12) and was tied for second with Davydenko and Nadal on ATP circuit...Finished in Top 5 and as No. 1 American for first time, highlighted by reaching season-ending Tennis Masters Cup final in Shanghai (l. to Federer)...Also helped his country to Davis Cup SF (l. to Russia) with 3-3 singles record...In January, won title in Sydney (d. Andreev in a third set tie-break)...Posted first Top 10 win in an ATP final by defeating No. 10 Hewitt in Las Vegas...
Broke into Top 10 on Mar. 20 after reaching his first AMS final in Indian Wells (l. to Federer)...Became first African-American to rank in Top 10 since Arthur Ashe on Jan. 21, 1980...Went on to match Ashe's career-best year-end finish of No. 4 (in 1975)...At Queen's, defeated Gimelstob, Ginepri, Monfils and Roddick before falling to in final to Hewitt...Claimed third title of season by defeating Roddick in Indianapolis in a third set tie-break...Played well at US Open with repeat QF result (l. to Federer in four sets), and then won first Asian title in Bangkok (d. Ljubicic)...
Followed with repeat title in Stockholm (d. Nieminen), giving him a career-best 11-match winning streak...Went 8-6 vs. Top 10 opponents, defeating No. 2 Nadal (twice), No. 3 Ljubicic, No. 5 Roddick, No. 6 Davydenko (twice), No. 7 Nalbandian and No. 10 Hewitt (lost to Federer four times)...Compiled 47-14 record on hard courts...Surpassed $1 million in a season for first time with career-best $1,894,295...
2005 -- Captured two ATP titles and first year-end finish in Top 25...Also turned in his first Grand Slam QF result at US Open...Ranked as low as No. 210 on Apr. 18 and compiled a 13-15 match record through July before putting together an impressive stretch from August-on with a 21-6 mark...Began his consistent play with a runner-up effort in Washington (l. to Roddick), then three weeks later captured title in New Haven (d. Lopez)...
Took momentum into US Open where he defeated No. 2 Nadal in 3rd RD, No. 20 Robredo in 4th RD before losing to eventual finalist Agassi in a fifth set tie-break (after holding a two set lead)... Played on U.S. Davis Cup squad in World Group playoff tie in Belgium and defeated Darcis in dead rubber...In October, earned his first European ATP title in Stockholm (d. Srichaphan)...Earlier in season won back-to-back Challenger titles in May in Tunica, Mississippi (d. Baker) and Forest Hills, N.Y. (d. Vemic)..
2004 -- At AMS Rome, lost in 1st RD to Novak then slipped during practice session on May 6 while hitting with Ginepri and hit net post, suffering fractured vertebrae in his neck that kept him out of action until July...Came back in Newport and reached 2nd RD...
Then fell ill with Zoster, a condition affecting hearing and visionary senses and causing temporary paralysis on one side of his face...Though not completely recovered, played Washington and Delray Beach before ending year early...In March-April, reached QF in Scottsdale, AMS Indian Wells and Houston...In doubles, won titles in San Jose and Houston (w/Fish) and Munich (w/Merklein)..
2003 -- Reached final in Long Island (l. to Srichaphan)...In doubles, won second career title in Scottsdale (w/Merklein)...
2002 -- Went 5-1 in Davis Cup play (3-0 in doubles)...Captured title at Waikoloa Challenger and reached first ATP final in Memphis (l. to Roddick) and later in Newport (l. to Dent)... Breakthrough week came in Washington where he posted wins over Corretja (QF), Agassi (SF) and Srichaphan (F) to become fourth African-American to win an ATP title in Open Era...In doubles, captured first ATP title in Cincinnati (w/T. Martin)...
2001 -- Reached final at Waikoloa Challenger (l. to Roddick)...Advanced to first ATP SF in Newport and later in Tokyo (l. to Hewitt)...Made Davis Cup debut in World Group playoff tie vs. India and won both singles matches...Finished with title at Knoxville Challenger (d. Trifu)...
2000 -- Captured first Challenger titles in Houston (d. Kratochvil) and Rancho Mirage (d. Mamiit)...
ATP World Tour 250
ATP World Tour 500
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Barclays ATP World Tour Finals 1500
Grand Slam 2000*
Davis Cup 625
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