Five-Set Loss Sends Blake Into Retirement

August 29, 2013 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

American James Blake walked off Louis Armstrong Stadium at the U.S. Open for the last time as a singles player Blake fell 6-7(2), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(2), 7-6(2) in the first round to Ivo Karlovic. Blake still is in the doubles draw, but this loss was the final singles match he will play in his career. Blake announced Monday he will be retiring after the Open. He rallied from down a break in the final set to force the tie-breaker, but couldn’t overcome the 6-foot-10 Karlovic’s big serve. Karlovic closed out the victory in 3 hours, 24 minutes with his 38th ace.

Blake expressed his appreciation for the fans who stayed late to try to will him to victory. The match ended after midnight.

"That ovation makes me realize that everything I did, every bit of hard work, was worth it," Blake said in an on-court interview.

Blake had won 11 straight first-round matches at Flushing Meadows since losing in his debut in 1999. He has been ranked as high as fourth in the world in his career and reached three Grand Slam quarterfinals.

"I’m proud that I have the rest of my career to look back on as some pretty good matches, some pretty good wins," Blake said. "Hopefully this won’t be my lasting memory, is that loss, up two sets to love, two tie-breakers in the fourth and fifth, losing both of those. Pretty much in my hands at times, and I was the one that I felt like I gave them away."

Karlovic had only come back from two sets to none down once before in his career and it was also against Blake, at the 2009 Davis Cup. Blake ended his career 4-15 in five-set matches.

"I definitely won’t sleep a whole lot tonight," Blake said. "I’ll be thinking about opportunities I had."

Credit all photos to Adam Wolfthal

James Blake played his final career singles match early Thursday morning after midnight at the 2013 U.S. Open

 

Ivo Karlovic advanced to the second round of the 2013 U.S. Open after his victory over James Blake

 

Ivo Karlovic congratulates James Blake on a storied career that came to an end at the U.S. Open

 

An emotional James Blake speaks with ESPN after his first round loss

 


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Centercourt
Pointset

March/April 2024 Digital Edition