Blake's back for a shot

June 2010 | by Monticelli

superstar james blakeJames Blake, the Afro-American superstar of the tennis court, has experienced his ups and downs both on and off the tennis courts. But the amicable baseline expert is making his debut at Devonshire Park for the 2010 AEGON International in fine fettle.

Although Blake has slipped towards the rear end of the world’s top 100, having reached a career high of no4 in 2006, his new and improved game is now suited to an all-court game.

So Blake could surprise everyone, apart from himself and coach Kelly Jones, by being crowned champion at Devonshire Park.

However, the last time he won a singles title on the ATP Tour was back in 2006 and he has yet to claim a title on grass.

superstar james blakeBlake, the top-ranked American men’s singles player in 2006, had been tipped by ex-professionals to take a grand slam title but has yet to do so. 

Whether the Wimbledon crown is beyond the battling baseliner remains to be seen, especially as the record of seven wins and seven defeats is nothing to shout about.

superstar james blakeBut coach Jones, introduced after the 2009 US Open, has introduced a new aspect to his game to try and make Blake a much more complete player. 

The development of a serve and volley game under Jones, who replaced long-term and original coach Brian Barker, could pay dividends for the man who in 2009 excelled during the grass court season.

In 2009, Blake finished runner-up at Queen’s Club in London to Scottish ace Andy Murray. But he followed it up a fortnight later by becoming the first men’s seed to bow out at Wimbledon.

With such an unpredictable go-for-broke style by hitting the ball exceptionally early, Blake is an error-prone "shot maker". Such inconsistency is being ironed out by Jones, so that he no longer relies on hitting winners from the baseline with his incredibly powerful and flat forehand. 

superstar james blakeBut the 2009 breakthrough on grass was a surprise to the critics, who has expected the tough-talking Afro-American to simply make up the numbers. Yet playing at the 2009 Estoril Open in Portugal seemed to turn his poor form around and inject much-needed confidence following a dreadful start to the campaign.

Blake got plenty of media and player attention, as he almost became the first American to win on European clay since Andy Roddick lifted the 2003 St Pöelten trophy in Austria.
However, Blake followed up that shot of success with a confidence-zapping first round defeat to a qualifier at Roland Garros although he was given plenty of unexpected rest before crossing the English Channel for the start of the grass court season.

At Queen's Club in London, Blake saw off veteran Ivan Ljubičić, scrapped past compatriot Sam Querrey and had the edge over Mikhail Youzhny to make the semi-final stage.

superstar james blakeWith nemesis Roddick standing between Blake and only his second final on grass, a nervy opening set saw the eight games shared equally. But disaster struck and Roddick was forced to retire because of an ankle injury. 

It was not the way that Blake wanted to reach the final, but allowed extra rest before facing wily Scot Murray in front of a highly vocal British-supporting crowd. Despite a close encounter, Murray had just enough guile to narrowly see off the plucky Afro-African 7-5 6-4.

With the American media expecting Blake to perform much better than previous years at the Wimbledon Championships, the no17 seed failed to live up to expectation and was overturned in the opening round by Andreas Seppi. The Italian, fresh from playing on the former grass courts of Wimbledon at Eastbourne’s 2009 AEGON International, disposed of Blake in three tight sets 7-5 6-4 7-6. 

But Blake complained immediately afterwards that he was battling a stomach virus, claiming that he was taking painkillers before playing. He was also not best pleased at becoming the first seeded singles player to be knocked out of The Championships.

superstar james blakeHowever, he soon bounced back by reaching the semi-finals of the 2009 Wimbledon doubles with fellow American Mardy Fish.

Controversially, during his initial post-match press conference, Blake heavily criticised the ATP Tour for their poor scheduling after his final at Queen’s Club and said that it was because of this that he had suffered a “loss of focus”.

However, Blake has never excelled at SW19 with defeats in the third round both in 2006 and 2007 the very furtherest that he has progressed.

superstar james blakeYet, Blake’s grass court game - helped by his incredibly fast footwork and ability to hit winners from anywhere - did see him finish runner-up to Aussie Lleyton Hewitt at Queen’s Club, London in the 2006 Stella Artois Championships.

And the new, streamlined version of Blake could pay dividends despite being older and wiser.

He said: “You know, little aches and pains are par for the course at this age. But otherwise I'm feeling good, and definitely playing better than I was earlier in the year or at the end of last year.”

superstar james blakeWith respect to the ATP Tour, Blake admitted: “I know now that I'm at the mercy of the draw sometimes with my ranking where it is. I remember doing it first time, proving myself, having to beat some of the top guys, having to work my own way back to being seeded.

I'm looking forward to hopefully doing it again. And more than anything, proving it to myself that I can still do it, that I haven't lost a step, that I haven't lost any motivation or anything like that. It's sometimes fun to have a new challenge.”

And Blake, no longer part and parcel of the US Davis Cup team, explained: “I just don't think my body could take that kind of travel and that kind of a schedule anymore. I need to try to get as much as I can out of my career, and it was just too much.

superstar james blake"At this point, to be honest, I don't know if I was the best guy for the job. Its tough competing at 100% throughout the whole year when you add in those three or four weeks. [John] Isner and [Sam] Querrey represented themselves very, very well - they are two of my best friends on the [ATP] Tour, so I'm real happy for them.”

With Isner expected to be the no1 seed at AEGON International, Blake is expecting good things from his competitive compatriot and said: “With that serve he can beat anyone. I remember when he first came on the [ATP] Tour, I felt like it didn't matter who he played. It was just if he was serving well and took a couple rips at his forehand.

"The biggest improvement has been him understanding his game better, he now steps around and rips that forehand - it's gotten so much better. He plays solid on his backhand, and he really dedicated himself to his fitness in the off-season. He's not just a guy with one shot anymore, he's a guy that can hurt you in a few different ways." 

I'm feeling good, and definitely playing better than I was earlier in the year or at the end of last year.

- James Blake