James Blake Is Becoming An Elder Statesman

Written by: Staff on 25th March 2013

Sony Open tennis tournament on Key Biscayne, Florida

James Blake Is Becoming An Elder Statesman

epa03639747 James Blake of the US returns the ball to Albert Ramos of Spain during their third round match at the Sony Open tennis tournament in Miami, Florida, USA, 24 March 2013. The tournament runs through 31 March. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER |

At the age of 33, James Blake is still trying to keep himself a relevant singles player, which is not easy to do given his long history of injuries. Blake took a step in a positive direction by winning his two opening matches in Miami, but said that he’s not taking losses as hard as he once did.

Currently living in Connecticut with his newlywed Emily Snider and their nine-month-old daughter, Riley, Blake asks the two to accompany him on the road on occasion. When they do come along it keeps his spirits up.

“Riley got to watch today,” Blake said after one of his wins. “I’m not sure she really knew what was going on, but she was watching. It makes such a difference. I used to dread night matches because it means you waste the whole day, and now a night match means I get to play with my daughter most of the day. It’s a ton of fun, and it just changes your perspective on everything. I have never been a very good loser, so once I lose, most people in the locker room know to stay away from me. I’m not the friendliest for a few hours, but then if I go back to the hotel and see my daughter I can’t bring anything negative when I see her smile. So it definitely changes the perspective on wins and losses out here. And that doesn’t mean once I step on the court I want to win any less, but it changes your life a lot more than tennis can.”

Now an elder statesman, Blake appreciates the support he gets even more than he used to. While at a No. 95 ranking he is nowhere close to his career high of No. 4, he is still is a shot maker, even if he has lost a little foot speed.

“I hope crowds appreciate that I’m having fun out there,” he said. “I know I probably don’t give quite as much emotion as I did when I was younger. Because, to be honest, I don’t know if I have as much energy as I had when I was younger. So I can’t use all that up giving a ton of fist pumps and jumping up and down, but I do have that same excitement burning in inside. I know this is just a sport. I know that it’s a game and I get to do what I love for a living. I know how lucky I am. I hope that’s why fans appreciate me playing, because I’m out there having a good time and doing the best I can, hopefully getting some wins.”

While Blake has set no date for retirement and could probably play at least five more years if he continues to play doubles as he and Jack Sock have had some good results together, he does not see himself having his rackets strung for singles at the age of 42 like Kimiko Date-Krumm still is.

“That’s impressive at 42 years old,” he said. “I don’t think you’ll see me out here yet at 42. I wish my body would hold up for that long, but it’s just not possible, I don’t think, these days.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: American tennis news, James Blake, Kimiko Date-Krumm, Miami tennis news, Sports, Tennis News