James Blake
Olympian 2008
Athlete Bio#
Age
45
Hometown
Tampa
The Short List
In 2004, James Blake broke his neck during a practice when he ran into a net post. Soon after, he lost his father to stomach cancer and then developed shingles that temporarily paralyzed half his face and blurred his vision. His future in tennis was in doubt. But on March 20, 2006, after a furious comeback onto the professional scene, Blake became the first man with African-American heritage since Arthur Ashe to break into the Top 10 rankings.
Quote
James Blake on his pre-match thought process: "Try to get a game plan pretty early. Before I go out to a match, I think about how I'm going to play and think about the feeling of winning it. I always want to think about that feeling. So it's never a surprise. I don't want to be surprised to win." -From interview with SPiN columnist Scoop Malinowski
- 2008 U.S. Olympic Team hopeful
- A fixture on the U.S. Davis Cup team, since his first appearance in 2001
- In 2006, qualified for his second straight U.S. Open quarterfinals, as the number-one world-ranked American men's player
- Dropped out of Harvard University after his sophomore year to pursue tennis
- Named to his fifth U.S. Davis Cup team in 2006
- Became the third man with African American heritage to play in a Davis Cup for the U.S. in 2001
- Born to African-American father Thomas Sr. and British mother Betty
- Brother Thomas Jr. is also a professional tennis player
- Has scoliosis and had to wear a full-length back brace for five years as a teenager
- Enjoys playing golf, basketball and baseball
- Loves the New York Mets
- Appeared on Bravo's Celebrity Poker Showdown and in People Magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" issue
- Was invited by Anthem Insurance to do a cancer charity game honoring his late father; invited good friend John Mayer along with Andy Roddick and Gavin DeGraw to perform
In 2004, James Blake broke his neck during a practice when he ran into a net post. Soon after, he lost his father to stomach cancer and then developed shingles that temporarily paralyzed half his face and blurred his vision. His future in tennis was in doubt. But on March 20, 2006, after a furious comeback onto the professional scene, Blake became the first man with African-American heritage since Arthur Ashe to break into the Top 10 rankings.
Related Links:
Photo Gallery: James Blake from 2005
Photo Gallery: Blake with Andy Roddick ... 'Before They Were Stars'
Quote
James Blake on his pre-match thought process: "Try to get a game plan pretty early. Before I go out to a match, I think about how I'm going to play and think about the feeling of winning it. I always want to think about that feeling. So it's never a surprise. I don't want to be surprised to win." -From interview with SPiN columnist Scoop Malinowski
Olympic Experience
- 1-time Olympian
- Olympic Games Beijing 2008, 4th (Singles - Men), 17th (Doubles - Men)
