Tennis Farewells of the Year 2013

James Blake

James Blake, on the other hand, had the luxury (or foresight) to time his retirement, when he announced that this year’s US Open would be his last tournament on the circuit.

So, as we watched him lose to Ivo Karlovic at Flushing Meadows in a late night encounter under the lights, and finally trudge to his seat a defeated man to the cheers of his support squad, we had the opportunity to feel bitter-sweet about the man’s career ending.

After all, how should we look back at Blake’s achievements over the years? His career always remained in the periphery for someone like me, a typical, non-American tennis fan. This was primarily due to lack of relative success in the biggest of stages, namely the majors, where he never went past the quarter-final stage. And the second part of his career was spent battling injuries and anonymity on the tennis circuit.

But then again, this was the man who was once the highest ranked American in the world (at number 4), seen as the next big tennis star after the Agassi-Sampras generation. This was also the man who suffered a career-threatening, freak neck injury in 2004, but then proceeded to chart an inspiring comeback to post a stellar year in 2005.

It was only fitting that the US Open would serve as his final theatre, the venue to some of his best performances on a tennis court.

The quarter-final he lost to Andre Agassi in 2005 at Flushing Meadows in a fifth set tie-breaker is still regarded as one of the best matches played at the tournament.

Perhaps in the end, Blake’s career is best summed up as the Great American Dream, both in terms of the success he had and the goals that remained as unfulfilled aspirations.

Highest Ranking – 4 (2006)

No. of ATP Singles titles – 10

Best Grand Slam Performance – US Open, 2005, 2006 (QF), Australian Open, 2008 (QF)