August 26, 2013 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg
Former top-five player James Blake has announced that he will retire from the sport of tennis after the U.S. Open. "No real surprise here. This is my last tournament," said Blake. "I always wanted to end my career at the U.S. Open."
Blake reached a career-high ranking of number four in the world 2006, making the finals of the elite year-end championships tournament and Indian Wells. Along with Andy Roddick and the doubles pair of Bob & Mike Bryan, Blake helped the U.S. to its first Davis Cup title in 12 years in 2007. His results have dipped significantly in recent years, as the last of his 10 career singles titles was won six years ago. Blake is currently ranked at number 100 in the ATP Men’s Singles Rankings, and he has not been in the top 50 since February 2010. Blake attended Harvard before turning pro in 1999 and has a 9-13 record this season heading into his first-round match in the U.S. Open against Ivo Karlovic.
"I don’t kid myself … I know I have had a great career in my eyes, but it’s not one that’s going to go down in the history books," said Blake during a Monday morning press conference at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. "It’s not one that’s going to end in Newport, but it’s one that I’m proud of. It’s one that hopefully younger Americans can know that my phone is always there by my side, my door is always open if they have questions."
Blake’s announcement comes a year after his friend and former U.S. Davis Cup teammate Andy Roddick retired during the 2012 U.S. Open.
