Blake is done.

jamesblakefan#1 · Apr 6, 2009

I am a big fan of the guy, but after multiple early round losses, failure to seriously adapt his game, and falling to #17 in this weeks rankings, I have to believe that James is nearing the end of his road. Is there any hope left for Blake to resurge?

bladepdb · Apr 6, 2009

Nope, we talked this topic to death in another thread after he got cleaned out by Gonzo at Indian Wells.

SaintClaires · Apr 6, 2009

I knew there was another thread on this.....I just didn't remember when.

I think the other thread had the exact same title, if I'm not mistaken.

GameSampras · Apr 6, 2009

He was done 4 years ago

SaintClaires · Apr 6, 2009

GameSampras said:
He was done 4 years ago

I thought 4 years ago was his peak

bladepdb · Apr 6, 2009

If he was done 4 years ago he would not have been in the Top 10 so recently.

By your logic, Roddick was done in 04, maybe 05...yet he has had his best season start this year.

swedechris · Apr 6, 2009

Think so. Except on some occasions on home soil in July and August during the US hard court season. other than that , he is flat.

thalivest · Apr 6, 2009

SaintClaires said:
I thought 4 years ago was his peak

Which was never anything to write home about. Also his career high ranking of #4 and year end #4 in 2006 is a joke with only 1 slam quarterfinal for the year and first round losses at the other 3 slams (not even reaching round of 16). He has never even won a Masters title or been in a slam semi.

In his best ever shot at a slam final he choked away a 2 sets to 0 lead in the quarters vs a 35 year old Agassi. In his biggest achievement, the Masters Cup final in 2006, he barely showed up to play the final and was demolished by Federer. In his last ever shot of some kind of real glory he wasted a bunch of match points vs an off form and erratic Gonzalez in the Olympic semis. The guy is way overrated and overhyped since he is lucky enough to be the 2nd best American of an unusually weak generation of American players. Plain and simple.

edberg505 · Apr 6, 2009

thalivest said:
Which was never anything to write him about. Also his career high ranking of #4 and year end #4 in 2006 is a joke with only 1 slam quarterfinal for the year and first round losses at the other 3 slams (not even reaching round of 16). He has never even won a Masters title or been in a slam semi.

Ah, spoken like a true keyboard jock. Again I say, if the player's name isn't Nadal, Federer, Murray, or Djokovic; they get no respect at all.

SaintClaires · Apr 6, 2009

thalivest said:
Which was never anything to write home about. Also his career high ranking of #4 and year end #4 in 2006 is a joke with only 1 slam quarterfinal for the year and first round losses at the other 3 slams (not even reaching round of 16). He has never even won a Masters title or been in a slam semi.

In his best ever shot at a slam final he choked away a 2 sets to 0 lead in the quarters vs a 35 year old Agassi. In his biggest achievement, the Masters Cup final in 2006, he barely showed up to play the final and was demolished by Federer. In his last ever shot of some kind of real glory he wasted a bunch of match points vs an off form and erratic Gonzalez in the Olympic semis. The guy is way overrated and overhyped since he is lucky enough to be the 2nd best American of an unusually weak generation of American players. Plain and simple.

3rd round losses, you mean.....

jamesblakefan#1 · Apr 6, 2009

bladepdb said:
Nope, we talked this topic to death in another thread after he got cleaned out by Gonzo at Indian Wells.

Sorry, hadn't been around in a while.

thalivest · Apr 6, 2009

edberg505 said:
Ah, spoken like a true keyboard jock. Again I say, if the player's name isn't Nadal, Federer, Murray, or Djokovic; they get no respect at all.

I actually respect alot of players outside the 4 you mentioned, and in fact I dont even like 3 of those 4- Djokovic, Murray, or even Federer so your comment makes no sense. There are some who have achieved even less than Blake who I respect more than him as they are not ridiculously overhyped by the U.S media, and they actually try different things to improve their game rather than playing a one-dimensional bashing game with no plan B in the case he plays someone who plays that game better (his horrible record vs Gonzo is an example) or when it isnt working that day. I also respect players like Davydenko who have in fact achieved alot more than Blake but get no recognition for it while Blake is hyped as if he were someone who has to potential to win big (LOL).

thalivest · Apr 6, 2009

SaintClaires said:
3rd round losses, you mean.....

Sorry I meant first week.

SaintClaires · Apr 6, 2009

thalivest said:
Sorry I meant first week.

Okay, I understand.

Lee James · Apr 6, 2009

I've been wondering a lot lately what happened to J. Blake. He's really on the slide. However I suppose if Federer can slide, anyone can slide. Hopefully he pulls it together and makes at least 1 or 2 more runs at the major events.

egn · Apr 6, 2009

Blake really good player, never should have been ranked 4. I don't know how but he duped the system in 2006. He played a lot of smaller tournaments avoided the big guns like Federer, Nadal, Davy, Roddick, Nalby etc. and rose up. Federer had crushed the tour so much that year that nobody stood a chance at rising that high and since Blake played enough tournaments he was able to climb. He is right where he should be, he is not done. 2006 He played a little better but he was always a 10-20 player who could break top 10 for a while. Never top 5 like his ranking showed.

jamesblakefan#1 · Apr 6, 2009

egn said:
Blake really good player, never should have been ranked 4. I don't know how but he duped the system in 2006. He played a lot of smaller tournaments avoided the big guns like Federer, Nadal, Davy, Roddick, Nalby etc. and rose up. Federer had crushed the tour so much that year that nobody stood a chance at rising that high and since Blake played enough tournaments he was able to climb. He is right where he should be, he is not done. 2006 He played a little better but he was always a 10-20 player who could break top 10 for a while. Never top 5 like his ranking showed.

06 he did make TMC final(crushed by Fed), IW final & Miami QF (losing to Fed at both), Queens Club final (beating Roddick in SF), USO QF(losing to Fed) and won 5 titles that yr. So I dont buy his ranking being inflated at that point.

And BTW, I don't see Davydenko being a big gun, at least not to Blake, he owns him in the career. But I get what you're saying about playing smaller events. The only difference is now hes going out in QF of those events, instead of winning them and gaining momentum. Thats his big problem, he has no momentum in his career right now.

Zero momentum + zero confidence = major ranking fall

Breaker · Apr 6, 2009

egn said:
Blake really good player, never should have been ranked 4. I don't know how but he duped the system in 2006. He played a lot of smaller tournaments avoided the big guns like Federer, Nadal, Davy, Roddick, Nalby etc. and rose up. Federer had crushed the tour so much that year that nobody stood a chance at rising that high and since Blake played enough tournaments he was able to climb. He is right where he should be, he is not done. 2006 He played a little better but he was always a 10-20 player who could break top 10 for a while. Never top 5 like his ranking showed.

To be fair he's done more than previous short term top 5 players such as Kiefer and Bjorkman, he definitely deserved his ranking as he was playing very well in the year that he reached that ranking.

edberg505 · Apr 6, 2009

thalivest said:
I actually respect alot of players outside the 4 you mentioned, and in fact I dont even like 3 of those 4- Djokovic, Murray, or even Federer so your comment makes no sense. There are some who have achieved even less than Blake who I respect more than him as they are not ridiculously overhyped by the U.S media, and they actually try different things to improve their game rather than playing a one-dimensional bashing game with no plan B in the case he plays someone who plays that game better (his horrible record vs Gonzo is an example) or when it isnt working that day. I also respect players like Davydenko who have in fact achieved alot more than Blake but get no recognition for it while Blake is hyped as if he were someone who has to potential to win big (LOL).

Blake is ridiculously over hyped? Damn I guess I don't live in the states then. So he should never be mentioned at all? I honestly don't see how he's overhyped. It's not like he's in the media all the time. I would think the 2nd best and (for a while) best American player should deserve some coverage. Especially here in the states and especially during the hard court summer season. I mean the guy was number 4 in the world and it doesn't matter if you call it a fluke or not. He got there by putting up the results. That's pretty much all it boils down to. All I know is that I'm kinda tired of seeing the people on this board take a dump on players because they have a losing record to one of the top 4 or because he/she never won a slam or masters event.

edberg505 · Apr 6, 2009

jamesblakefan#1 said:
06 he did make TMC final(crushed by Fed), IW final & Miami QF (losing to Fed at both), Queens Club final (beating Roddick in SF), USO QF(losing to Fed) and won 5 titles that yr. So I dont buy his ranking being inflated at that point.

And BTW, I don't see Davydenko being a big gun, at least not to Blake, he owns him in the career. But I get what you're saying about playing smaller events. The only difference is now hes going out in QF of those events, instead of winning them and gaining momentum. Thats his big problem, he has no momentum in his career right now.

Zero momentum + zero confidence = major ranking fall

Damn, I wonder why Daveydenko doesn't adjust his game.

Leublu tennis · Apr 6, 2009

Yep. Agreed. Have not seem him doing anything lately. He could write another book, I suppose.

sureshs · Apr 6, 2009

Considering his multiple serious injuries and ailments, and the tragedy in his family, and the fact that he attended college for a couple of years, he has achieved a lot - much more than what most would have done under the circumstances.

egn · Apr 6, 2009

jamesblakefan#1 said:
06 he did make TMC final(crushed by Fed), IW final & Miami QF (losing to Fed at both), Queens Club final (beating Roddick in SF), USO QF(losing to Fed) and won 5 titles that yr. So I dont buy his ranking being inflated at that point.

And BTW, I don't see Davydenko being a big gun, at least not to Blake, he owns him in the career. But I get what you're saying about playing smaller events. The only difference is now hes going out in QF of those events, instead of winning them and gaining momentum. Thats his big problem, he has no momentum in his career right now.

Zero momentum + zero confidence = major ranking fall

Outside of the Masters Final his year was low top 10. It reminded me of Del Potro from last year..low top 10. Their seasons were the same in essence or Giles Simon and let us not Forget Nalbandian 05 which won the masters cup had 3 slam QFs only got him rank 6 or Nalbandian 07 who won the last 2 master series could not squeak out a top 5 ranking. It's just I feel that the year was drained and Blake benefited all his titles were small tournaments. Yea I see what you say about Davy Blake beat him a lot. Yea I agree he can't get on a run anymore also and thats what killing him..he just can't string 4 or 5 wins together it is sad because he is a good force to have in the top 20 hope he stays there.

Leublu tennis · Apr 6, 2009

sureshs said:
Considering his multiple serious injuries and ailments, and the tragedy in his family, and the fact that he attended college for a couple of years, he has achieved a lot - much more than what most would have done under the circumstances.

Hey I am not deriding him. But I think he went to college before he went pro and his family tragedy should not be taken into account relative to tennis accomplishments. Its like, tough but others have problems too. I just don't remember the serious injuries and ailments. What were those and when? Thanks.

LT

edberg505 · Apr 6, 2009

Leublu tennis said:
Hey I am not deriding him. But I think he went to college before he went pro and his family tragedy should not be taken into account relative to tennis accomplishments. Its like, tough but others have problems too. I just don't remember the serious injuries and ailments. What were those and when? Thanks.

LT

Well, he had scoliosis as a kid and was forced to wear a back brace for 18 hours a day. That in itself is an impressive feat to be able to play pro tennis. And about 5 years ago he was bed ridden for quite a while, nearly being paralyzed in an accident on the tennis court.

grafrules · Apr 6, 2009

Blake owning Davydenko does not mean he is the better player which he isnt even close to. It just means he is a bad matchup for Davydenko.

Davydenko has been in the semis of every slam apart from Wimbledon. He has been in multiple semis or quarters of each of the Australian, French, and U.S Open. He has won 2 Masters titles. He has mantained a top 5 ranking for years now.

Hands down Davydenko is and always was a better and more accomplished player than the overrated Blake.

At his best he is more realistically a 10-15 kind of player, his career high #4 ranking was both an aberration and a question of the ranking system when one analyzes his results closely (read what egn and thalivest said on that). However he is now 29 years old and past his best. So realistically he should fall out of the top 20 now, probably for good.

sureshs · Apr 6, 2009

Leublu tennis said:
Hey I am not deriding him. But I think he went to college before he went pro and his family tragedy should not be taken into account relative to tennis accomplishments. Its like, tough but others have problems too. I just don't remember the serious injuries and ailments. What were those and when? Thanks.

LT

He broke his neck practising in Europe (ran full speed into the post). Then he developed shingles and almost had facial paralysis. Around that time his father died. Yet he emerged stronger and was never bitter about it. Not many have such courage. See how Fed is making excuses about mono and back pain, all carefully publicized after a loss but before it is forgotten. Blake never made any excuses and just fought on.

edberg505 · Apr 6, 2009

grafrules said:
Blake owning Davydenko does not mean he is the better player which he isnt even close to. It just means he is a bad matchup for Davydenko.

Davydenko has been in the semis of every slam apart from Wimbledon. He has been in multiple semis or quarters of each of the Australian, French, and U.S Open. He has won 2 Masters titles. He has mantained a top 5 ranking for years now.

Hands down Davydenko is and always was a better and more accomplished player than the overrated Blake.

Um, I don't think anyone was disputing that fact.

GameSampras · Apr 6, 2009

bladepdb said:
If he was done 4 years ago he would not have been in the Top 10 so recently.

By your logic, Roddick was done in 04, maybe 05...yet he has had his best season start this year.

Roddick was done too then.. At least winning slams. Im sorry I shouild have said, Blake never even started LOL>

thalivest · Apr 6, 2009

The only slam Blake even at his peak in his mid 20s would have been capable of winning is a junior slam event. Even then he probably would have choked and lost to some 16 year old boy, the same way he choked and lost to a 2 sets to 0 lead 35 year old man (Agassi) in the U.S Open quarters with a great draw to the final, the same way he choked in the Olympic semis vs Gonzalez.

jamesblakefan#1 · Apr 6, 2009

grafrules said:
Blake owning Davydenko does not mean he is the better player which he isnt even close to. It just means he is a bad matchup for Davydenko.

Davydenko has been in the semis of every slam apart from Wimbledon. He has been in multiple semis or quarters of each of the Australian, French, and U.S Open. He has won 2 Masters titles. He has mantained a top 5 ranking for years now.

Hands down Davydenko is and always was a better and more accomplished player than the overrated Blake.
At his best he is more realistically a 10-15 kind of player, his career high #4 ranking was both an aberration and a question of the ranking system when one analyzes his results closely (read what egn and thalivest said on that). However he is now 29 years old and past his best. So realistically he should fall out of the top 20 now, probably for good.

I disagree. I think Blake is more talented, its just Davydenko has more of a consistent game. And you talk about poster child for winning small tourneys and rising in rankings, that is Davydenko. Hes made his career off of small tourneys. Granted he won 2 MS titles, a slam semi here or there.

I don't argue that Blake benefited from a lot of guys having down years in 06, but to devalue his top 4 and say he didn't deserve it is absurd.

thalivest · Apr 6, 2009

How is Davydenko the poster child for attaining a top 5 ranking by winning small touranments, when it is Blake who achieved the #4 ranking but does not have even close to even Davydenko's success in slams and in Masters events. That makes no sense.

GameSampras · Apr 6, 2009

Did Blake even have a peak? His peak was what? Not being as crappy then and inconsistent and the same senseless ball basher than as he is now? Blake was never all that great. Big FH, bit shots, pretty big serve, but if it wasnt clicking he was beat

jamesblakefan#1 · Apr 6, 2009

thalivest said:
How is Davydenko the poster child for attaining a top 5 ranking by winning small touranments, when it is Blake who achieved the #4 ranking but does not have even close to even Davydenko's success in slams and in Masters events. That makes no sense.

The ranking is based on points. Like I said, if you look at the ranking points for Blake in 06 compared to the final rankings last yr, he wouldn't have been top 4.

06: http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/rankings?year=2006&sport=MENRANK

and 08: http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/rankings?year=2008&type=1&sport=MENRANK

However, I think his ranking in 06 is still legitimate, he still was the 4th best player in the world, at the end of the day. Just go back and look at the year he had. For that year, he was #4. And its a lot more legit than some guy getting hot for one tourney and jumping from not even top 50 to top 20.

thalivest · Apr 6, 2009

jamesblakefan#1 said:
The ranking is based on points. Like I said, if you look at the ranking points for Blake in 06 compared to the final rankings last yr, he wouldn't have been top 4.

06: http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/rankings?year=2006&sport=MENRANK

and 08: http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/rankings?year=2008&type=1&sport=MENRANK

However, I think his ranking in 06 is still legitimate, he still was the 4th best player in the world, at the end of the day. Just go back and look at the year he had. For that year, he was #4. And its a lot more legit than some guy getting hot for one tourney and jumping from not even top 50 to top 20.

I just find it hypocritical to defend Blake reaching #4, then call Davydenko the poster child for attaining a top 5 ranking by smaller tournaments. Davydenko is the one who has won 2 Masters to Blake's 0, been in 4 slam semis to Blake's 0, been in many more slam quarters and Masters semis than Blake. So if Davydenko really is the poster child for reaching such a ranking through smallish tournaments than Blake must be the poster king of it all. It is also funny for you to say Davydenko make his career off of small tournaments. So Blake hasnt? No slam semis, no Masters titles, what the heck do you think he is making his career off of then. If Blake's reaching #4 is valid, than Davydenko being in the top 5 alot longer sure as heck is just as valid. Davydenko is far more worthy of such a ranking from any angle than Blake ever was.

SaintClaires · Apr 6, 2009

thalivest said:
I just find it hypocritical to defend Blake reaching #4, then call Davydenko the poster child for attaining a top 5 ranking by smaller tournaments. Davydenko is the one who has won 2 Masters to Blake's 0, been in 4 slam semis to Blake's 0, been in many more slam quarters and Masters semis than Blake. So if Davydenko really is the poster child for reaching such a ranking through smallish tournaments than Blake must be the poster king of it all. It is also funny for you to say Davydenko make his career off of small tournaments. So Blake hasnt? No slam semis, no Masters titles, what the heck do you think he is making his career off of then. If Blake's reaching #4 is valid, than Davydenko being in the top 5 alot longer sure as heck is just as valid. Davydenko is far more worthy of such a ranking from any angle than Blake ever was.

I completely agree....

Thus concludes this pointless thread. Someone should delete it.

jamesblakefan#1 · Apr 6, 2009

thalivest said:
I just find it hypocritical to defend Blake reaching #4, then call Davydenko the poster child for attaining a top 5 ranking by smaller tournaments. Davydenko is the one who has won 2 Masters to Blake's 0, been in 4 slam semis to Blake's 0, been in many more slam quarters and Masters semis than Blake. So if Davydenko really is the poster child for reaching such a ranking through smallish tournaments than Blake must be the poster king of it all. If Blake's reaching #4 is valid, than Davydenko being in the top 5 alot longer sure as heck is just as valid. Davydenko is far more worthy of such a ranking from any angle than Blake ever was.

I agree with you, they both benefited in their respective top 5 runs from there not being as deep of a field. But now that guys like Murray, DelPot, Simon, Tsonga have risen to the occasion, both have fallen. And with the way things are looking, Davy may be joining Blake outside the top 10 soon.

BTW, as strange as it may sound, I actually like Davy's game. And admittedly hes accomplished more than Blake. I was just saying he(Davydenko) hasnt accomplised as much as the guys in the top 4 now, like Murray and Djokovic, have accomplished to get to the top 4.

c_zimma · Apr 6, 2009

I guess if you're not a current top 5 player, you're done as a professional. So Blake doesn't win grand slams. He's a streaky player, and I think he realizes that is why he can't put together a lot of tournaments. Props to him for playing the game he wants anyways. He's worked a lot harder than most of the guys on top of the game, and he deserves more respect.

thalivest · Apr 6, 2009

jamesblakefan#1 said:
I agree with you, they both benefited in their respective top 5 runs from there not being as deep of a field. But now that guys like Murray, DelPot, Simon, Tsonga have risen to the occasion, both have fallen. And with the way things are looking, Davy may be joining Blake outside the top 10 soon.

BTW, as strange as it may sound, I actually like Davy's game. And admittedly hes accomplished more than Blake. I was just saying he(Davydenko) hasnt accomplised as much as the guys in the top 4 now, like Murray and Djokovic, have accomplished to get to the top 4.

Fair enough. I also dont think Davydenko will stay ranked at #4 or #5 with the up and coming talent much longer. Unfortunately for him he is injured right now so isnt even getting a fair shot at defending his points and ranking right now. Blake of course has the age factor to deal with now too. I find it interesting that people seem to understand Federer declining at only 26 or 27 but seem shocked that Safin and Blake are going downhill now at 29.

egn · Apr 6, 2009

jamesblakefan#1 said:
BTW, as strange as it may sound, I actually like Davy's game. And admittedly hes accomplished more than Blake. I was just saying he(Davydenko) hasnt accomplised as much as the guys in the top 4 now, like Murray and Djokovic, have accomplished to get to the top 4.

Davy did accomplish a lot though. He won a masters and had a couple slam semis that got him to the top of the rankings, from 06-07 he was definitely one of the best on the tour he just lost it all in 08 which was sad I thought he could have shelled it out for a few more years.

Blake is done.

G.O.A.T.

Professional

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Banned

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Professional

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Legend

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G.O.A.T.

Banned

Banned

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Rookie

Hall of Fame

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Legend

Legend

Legend

Legend

Bionic Poster

Hall of Fame

Legend

Legend

Banned

Bionic Poster

Legend

Banned

Banned

G.O.A.T.

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Banned

Banned

G.O.A.T.

Semi-Pro

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