James Blake succeeds in the first round

Written by: Global Chick on 31st August 2011

James Blake succeeds in the first round

Jesse Huta Galung of the Netherlands hits a returnt to James Blake of the US during their first round match on the second day of the 2011 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA 30 August 2011. The US Open runs through 11 September 2011. EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT |

Former World No. 4 James Blake is through to the second round at the US Open after a four set win over qualifier Jesse Huta Galung.

The last two years have been tough for Blake who has been battling with injuries. 2010 was the first year Blake has finished outside the Top 100 since the year 2000. The American is slowly climbing the rankings again, he is currently holding the No. 63 spot on the ATP Tour rankings.

The popular player won two Challengers this year, the first one in Sarasota, FL where he beat Alex Bogomolov Jr in the final and the second in Winnetka, IL beating Bobby Reynolds. Blake also reached the third rounds of Washington (l. Isner) and Cincinnati (l. Federer).

His match today was played on Louis Armstrong Stadium. “I was thinking about every match I’ve played on this court and Arthurs Ashe when I walked out tonight. I’ve come a full circle. I appreciate every single one of those matches,” Blake said.

Blake’s opponent today Jesse Huta Galung has never played in the main draw at US Open. Galung managed to hit 25 winners compared to Blake’s 35.

James Blake won the first set 6-4 after breaking Huta Galung’s serve three times. The American raced to a 4-1 lead in the second set and all went according to plan with Blake winning the second set 6-2. Blake was broken in the third set by Galung, who took the set 6-4. The third fourth set was not much different. Blake held serve and leading 5-4 when he broke serve to 0 and took the match.

The number five seed David Ferrer is next up for Blake. The two met in Indian Wells in 2010. James Blake was the winner back then. Before that the two played in 2002 at the indoor Basel tournament, Blake has never lost to Ferrer but this time it’s a different story.