James Blake

James Blake is a men's professional tennis player and is ranked among the top ten tennis players in the world. Blake is also the author of Breaking Back: How I Lost Everything and Won Back My Life. The book discusses his comeback after his 2004 season.

Blake debuted into professional tennis at the age of 21 in 2000, when he played in the Davis Cup. In 2002, Blake reached the US Open, but lost to Lleyton Hewitt in five sets.

In 2004, during a practice match, Blake slipped on some clay and broke his neck. Later in the year, his father died of stomach cancer and Blake himself developed shingles, which paralyzed part of his face. All these setbacks were the basis of the book Blake wrote.

Blake decided not to retire after his injuries in 2004, but upon his return he struggled playing tennis. He eventually went into the lower leagues of tennis to get his confidence and playing ability back so he could challenge harder opponents.

In 2008, Blake won his opening game in the French Open at the Grand Slam Tournament on Saturday, May 24, 2008.

• Mahalo's Guide to Professional Tennis
• ATP: Profile
  • Height: 6' 1"
  • Weight: 175 lbs
  • Turned Pro: 1998

• December 28, 1979: Born

• 1998: Turned Pro

• 2005: Reached Quarterfinal of U.S. Open

• 2006: Reached Quarterfinal of U.S. Open

• 2007: Published Breaking Back: How I Lost Everything and Won Back My Life

• ESPN.com: James Blake

• Topix: James Blake News

• NBC Sports: Blake Ends U.S. Men's Drought At French Open (May 25, 2008)

• UK Press Association: Blake no match for Federer (January 23, 2008)

• Tennis.com: Learning from James Blake (May 7, 2007)

• Hampton Roads: "Blake wins charity match, but Agassi wins over the crowd " (December 8, 2006)

• CBSSports.com: The Biofiles: James Blake (August 29, 2006)

• CBS News-60 Minutes: "Comeback Kid," James Blake (November 22, 2005)

• ESPN.com: Outtakes with James Blake (June 9, 2003)

• SI.com: Blake dishes on comeback, Federer, state of the game (January 31, 2001)