James Blake, the 2007 finalist at the Farmers Classic, will be among the players in the field when the tournament returns to the LA Tennis Center on the UCLA campus July 26-August 1.
Blake is the fourth singles player to commit to the 2010 event. He joins Sam Querrey, the defending champion of both the Farmers Classic and the Olympus US Open Series, 2008 Australian Open champion and World No. 3 Novak Djokovic and defending US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro. However, del Potro, who is recovering from wrist surgery has said he does not expect to return to action until after the US Open.
In doubles, five-time LA champions Bob and Mike Bryan are returning and will attempt to extend their 12-match tournament winning streak.
“James is a great ambassador for our sport, and we’re thrilled he’s coming back to LA this summer,” said tournament director Bob Kramer. “We have a wonderful player field shaping up for the tournament. We expect another incredible week of tennis once again this summer at the 84th annual Farmers Classic.”
In his career, Blake is 5-3 in LA, having last appeared in the Farmers Classic in 2007 when he reached the final before losing to Radek Stepanek. That 2007 run to the Farmers Classic final helped Blake finish second to Roger Federer in the Olympus US Open Series Bonus Challenge that year.
Overall, Blake has appeared in 24 ATP World Tour finals, and owns 10 career titles. He was sidelined during the 2010 clay court season by a knee injury, but plans on returning to action during the grass court season this month.
ESPN2 will broadcast eight hours of live coverage of this year’s Farmers Classic, including singles quarterfinal, semifinal and championship matches. Tennis Channel will again provide significant additional broadcast coverage, including singles quarterfinal and doubles championship matches.
In addition to the 84th edition of the Farmers Classic, the LA Tennis Center will be very busy this summer with a series of special events.
Keith Urban and the Avett Brothers will perform at the LA Tennis Center on Friday, July 23, as part of the Starry Night Benefit Concert Presented by the Grammy Foundation.
On Saturday, July 24, Andre Agassi and John McEnroe will return to the LA Tennis Center as part of Stars Under the Stars, an evening of tennis and entertainment to benefit the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education.
Following the completion of the Farmers Classic, on Monday, August 2, the LA Tennis Center will play host to KLOS Rocking the Net Starring Bret Michaels to benefit the Southern California Tennis Association.
Tickets for Starry Night will go on sale June 11 at 10 a.m., while Rocking the Net tickets go on sale June 12 at 10 a.m. Tickets to both events can be purchased through Ticketmaster.
Farmers Classic and Stars Under the Stars ticket information can be found at www.FarmersClassic.com or by calling (310) 824-1010, ext. 251.
Photo Credit: Natasha Peterson/Corleve
Topics: Atp World Tour, Australian Open, Australian Open Champion, Bob And Mike, Bob And Mike Bryan, Bob Kramer, Bonus Challenge, Broadcast Coverage, Career Titles, Defending Champion, Grass Court, Great Ambassador, Juan Martin Del Potro, Novak Djokovic, Radek Stepanek, Roger Federer, Sam Querrey, Tennis Channel, Ucla Campus, Wrist Surgery
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