From 1999-2013, American James Blake was an integral part of the US Open on the court, racking up 25 main-draw match wins and powering into the quarterfinals in successive years in 2005 and 2006. There were also the epic matches, like his improbable third-round takedown of Rafael Nadal in 2005 and his five-set battle with Andre Agassi in the quarterfinals later in that same tournament.
These days the Yonkers, N.Y.-born Blake, now 41, remains a part of the fabric of the Open through his commentating work for ESPN. He’s a thoughtful analyst with a feel for the players’ perspective. Having battled against some of the athletes who still populate the locker room and developed friendships with those he didn’t play with, he has a modern appreciation for the many trials and tribulations that today’s athletes face.
When Naomi Osaka struggled with her emotions in her post-match press conference after falling to Leylah Fernandez in the third round, Blake, a voice of reason and compassion, took to Twitter to voice his support.
“Please do what is best for you, Naomi Osaka,” Blake tweeted. “We want to see your extraordinary tennis again, but more importantly, we want to see you happy.”
Blake has also worked to bring to light the accomplishments of other black athletes at this year’s US Open. In a candid post-match interview with Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, he asked the Canadian what it meant to face Frances Tiafoe in Arthur Ashe Stadium in the fourth round—two black men, playing in tennis’ grandest stadium, named after one of the most prominent black athletes in history. Blake wanted to know how that made Auger-Aliassime feel.
So did the viewing public, as the story was picked up by many news outlets, as Auger-Aliassime discussed the conversation—and the significance of the moment—in his press conference.
Blake didn’t want the significance of the moment to be lost in a tournament that tends to turn its page every day, to make room for new landmarks and milestones. Life moves fast at the US Open, but sometimes it’s best to hang on a moment.
“The moment struck me because Arthur Ashe was an idol of mine, and to see two people that look like me on the court was another way to inspire me,” Blake told USOpen.org. “I’m proud of those two players, the stories they have, and the people they are. I didn’t want the moment to be lost on Felix either and it certainly wasn’t. I’m proud of them and believe that he was right in saying that he and Frances will inspire others to be like them in the future.”
For Blake, the 2021 US Open has been special in countless ways. First, the tournament welcomed back fans after it was played behind closed doors in 2020. Second, the players are hungry to make a mark in New York, with tennis icons Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams sitting out this summer due to injuries.
He believes the excitement of the 2021 US Open is proof that tennis won’t just survive the end of the Big 3 and Williams sisters—it will thrive in the next era.
“The tennis world always panics when a legend or legends look to be retiring,” he said. “But somehow, new champions always come around. There is an excitement to this event with some new talent that looks like it will carry this sport for many years to come. The excitement of Alcaraz, Medvedev, Zverev, Tiafoe, Auger-Aliassime, Berrettini, Fernandez, Raducanu and others have made for a thrilling event.”
Blake was full of praise for 19-year-old Leylah Fernandez and 18-year-old Emma Radacunu, speaking ahead of the women's semifinals. On Saturday, Raducanu defeated the Canadian in the first all-teen US Open final since 1999, when Serena Williams beat Martina Hingis.
“The young players help to give fans something to cheer for and some new blood to get behind,” he said. “Seeing someone burst onto the scene on the biggest stage is exciting for the players and fans alike.”
Of course Blake has his own New York moments to compare and contrast with those of today’s stars. It’s a luxury that a mere scribe like myself can never imagine. Asked which memory he cherishes above the rest, Blake says that he’d have to choose beating Rafael Nadal in Arthur Ashe Stadium, as a wild card.
“My favorite memory may be winning the match against Rafa on Arthur Ashe,” he says. “It was a match I came into with no expectations. I was a wild card and had a horrible year the previous year. The fan support and feeling I had that day will never be forgotten.”
Since the Open era began in 1968, low expectations and wild desire have always played a role in shaping the outcome. When put in context, Blake’s favorite memory in 2005 sounds very similar to the moments that move the needle in 2021. Sometimes the craziest things happen when you mix self-belief and a packed house of tennis die-hards. Shake them up and see what happens.
What results is the feeling that anything is possible. Blake knows what it means to scale those heights and chase those dreams, and that’s why he can’t help smiling when players like Alcaraz, Raducanu, Fernandez, Auger-Aliassime and Tiafoe break through and have their own US Open moments.
