James Blake News

Roger Federer overwhelmed James Blake, claiming his third Masters Cup title 6-0, 6-3, 6-4 in Sunday's championship match. Top-ranked Federer rounded off another dominating season with 12 titles and 16 finals appearances from the 17 tournaments he contested, winning US$8.34 million. Already the first player to exceed $7 million in prize money in a season, Federer pocketed $1.52 million for his unbeaten run at the season-ending championship in Shanghai. ``To ...

American James Blake rallied from a set and a break down to beat No. 3-ranked Nikolay Davydenko on Wednesday, continuing his perfect record against the Russian and at the Masters Cup. Blake won 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 to improve to 4-0 against Davydenko, two days after upsetting No. 2 Rafael Nadal in his first appearance at the season-ending championship. He is the only player in the eight-man draw with a winning ...

James Blake upset second-ranked Rafael Nadal Monday at the year-ending Masters Cup while Toronto's Daniel Nestor and partner Mark Knowles moved on in doubles action. Blake, ranked No. 8, extended his unbeaten run in ATP events against Nadal to three matches. He remains the only player in the elite eight-man field to have a winning record over the 20-year-old Spaniard. ``I'm the guy that's supposed to be the easy match ...

Defending champion Rafael Nadal of Spain defeated American qualifier Mardy Fish 6-4, 6-2 Wednesday in his opening match at the Madrid Masters, with Real Madrid soccer stars David Beckham and Raul part of the capacity crowd. Nadal, seeded No. 2, didn't drop serve and saved his best for last by breaking Fish in the last game with a no-look, crosscourt forehand. Four seeded players were eliminated in the second round: ...

Kristof Vliegen came back in the final set to beat seventh-ranked James Blake 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (5) Wednesday in the second round of the Madrid Masters. Blake, who had won his last two tournaments, led 3-1 in the final set but had 16 unforced errors and only 12 winners. The loss snapped the American's 14-match winning streak and left him winless in three visits to the Madrid Masters. Vliegen, a ...

James Blake beat Jarkko Nieminen 6-4, 6-2 Sunday to win the Stockholm Open for the second straight year. The second-seeded American became the first player since 1996 to defend his title at the Royal Tennis Hall. Nieminen, seeded fifth, lost the final for the second time. Sjeng Schalken beat the Finn in 2001. It was the fifth ATP title of the season for Blake. Blake won the first set in 32 minutes after breaking Nieminen's serve twice. The second ...

Defending champion James Blake edged Robin Soderling 7-5, 7-6 (4) Saturday to reach the Stockholm Open final. The second-seeded American will play Jarkko Nieminen of Finland in Sunday's final at the Royal Tennis Hall. Nieminen, seeded fifth, beat Swedish wild card Joachim Johansson 7-6 (8), 6-7 (5), 6-3. Blake put in nearly 80 per cent of his first serves. ``I served great today,'' he said. ``I don't know why I served so good today. Sometimes it feels good ...

Defending champion James Blake of the U.S. rallied to beat Olivier Rochus 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-2 on Friday to reach the semifinals at the Stockholm Open. Fifth-seeded Jarkko Nieminen also won his quarter-final, beating Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 7-5 for the Finn's third consecutive straight-set victory in the indoor tournament at Royal Tennis Hall. Nieminen will next meet wild card Joachim Johansson, who saved three match points before edging seventh-seeded Kristof ...

Top-seeded Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia had little trouble beating home favourite Paradorn Srichaphan 6-3, 6-2 Saturday to reach the Thailand Open final. Ljubicic will face third-seeded James Blake in Sunday's final. The American rallied from a set down to beat former world No. 1 Marat Safin of Russia 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (3). Ljubicic, who reached the 2003 Thailand semifinals, slammed 17 aces to beat the error-prone Srichaphan for the second ...

Third-seeded James Blake shrugged off a string of unforced errors Friday to beat Jarkko Nieminen 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 and advance to the semifinals of the Thailand Open. Blake will face Marat Safin, who defeated Mischa Zverev 7-6 (4), 5-7, 7-5. Top-seed Ivan Ljubicic defeated Robby Ginepri 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 despite being treated for a right shoulder injury during the match. Ljubicic, ranked No. 4, had treatment several times in the ...