James Blake needs to play a bunch of ATP 250 events of even Challengers!

[HunterST]

I think James Blake is still in good enough physical shape to be relevant in tournaments, but he's just in a funk and has basically forgotten how to win.

Just like he did early in his career, and just like Agassi did when he dropped to 130 in the world, James needs to play lower level events to get the feel of winning back. It would allow him to get his strokes and weapons back.

Getting a few challenger or ATP 250 titles and playing well would do worlds for his confidence, in my opinion.

 

[davey25]

Blake is no Agassi. He is just past his prime and is also showing the wear of injuries that come with age. What he really needs to do is retire.

 

[HunterST]

I don't think James' slump is all that related to age. I definitely agree his injuries have made things tough for him, but they weren't really injuries that suggested his body was rapidly deteriorating.

I think he has just forgotten how to win and his confidence has gone down the toilet. Obviously playing in lower level tournaments wont get him to a slam final, but maybe he can make a run to the quarters in a final, win a few 250 events, and finish his career in the top 50.

 

[davey25]

I dont know why you would think it isnt related to age. How many players play their best tennis at 30 or older especialy in the modern game. I know Blake even in his prime isnt going to be winning slams likely, but to put into perspective if you take the 10 greatest men or women players in the Open Era how many of their 100+ combined slams were over 30.

I dont think he is even in a slump. I think he is just past his prime. He looks slower, reflexes look slower, hitting the ball less hard. I think it goes beyond just getting it together mentally.

Usually the only players to survive at that age or either the ultra late bloomers or the ones that are so great they can overcome a significant drop in level and still do very well, which are usually the really great players who have won many slams.

 

[jamesblakefan#1]

I don't think James' slump is all that related to age. I definitely agree his injuries have made things tough for him, but they weren't really injuries that suggested his body was rapidly deteriorating.

I think he has just forgotten how to win and his confidence has gone down the toilet. Obviously playing in lower level tournaments wont get him to a slam final, but maybe he can make a run to the quarters in a final, win a few 250 events, and finish his career in the top 50.

Not trying to attack you here, but he did mention in the interview yesterday that injuries have played a large role in his results going down, and the knee injury in particular which he just took 10 wks off because of, and still hasn't seemed to fully heal.

http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/news/interviews/2010-06-22/201006221277223462866.html

The interview yesterday really gives a lot of insight into the nature of the injury, and it really seems like it could be something that's career ending, since he notes that he doesn't think surgery is a viable option at this point in time. And TBH I really don't think Blake would be willing to grind it out in the challengers at this stage of his career, especially if he's not fully fit. Agassi was still in his mid 20s IIRC when he went to challengers, Blake is already 30 and past his best tennis IMO.

 

[davey25]

Agassi began his long comeback when he was only 27 actually. It was in late 97 going down to challenger briefly (which didnt last long) began and in less than a year at still only 28 he was already back in the top 10. Starting that same process at 30 is a whole different thing, especialy with injuries.

 

[HunterST]

Not trying to attack you here, but he did mention in the interview yesterday that injuries have played a large role in his results going down, and the knee injury in particular which he just took 10 wks off because of, and still hasn't seemed to fully heal.

http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/news/interviews/2010-06-22/201006221277223462866.html

The interview yesterday really gives a lot of insight into the nature of the injury, and it really seems like it could be something that's career ending, since he notes that he doesn't think surgery is a viable option at this point in time. And TBH I really don't think Blake would be willing to grind it out in the challengers at this stage of his career, especially if he's not fully fit. Agassi was still in his mid 20s IIRC when he went to challengers, Blake is already 30 and past his best tennis IMO.

I agree with pretty much everything you said. I know his injuries have hindered his playing. I just meant that they were injuries that could happen to anyone and they weren't "old age injuries" ( I could be wrong, obviously).

I didn't consider Agassi was only mid 20s when he went down to the challengers. I just think Blake playing only top tier events and losing in the first round every time is no way to make even the smallest of comebacks.

 

[djokovicgonzalez2010]

Qualifying? Or does he have a PR?

 

[Tyrus]

I saw his Wimbledon match, he can't move, can't serve (1st was 120mph at best, 2nd was 90mph average). Still got killer strokes but without solid footwork he's no good.

He's like a DH in baseball, can't move but sure can hit.

I've been a fan ever since the dreadlocked kid came out of Harvard years ago, but for now I think its in his best interest to play out all the big ones in the USO series so he gets a good farewell.

He'll never be without Tennis, especially in America.

 

[davey25]

I saw his Wimbledon match, he can't move, can't serve (1st was 120mph at best, 2nd was 90mph average). Still got killer strokes but without solid footwork he's no good.

Yes and Haase was attacking his serve especialy his 2nd serve, and since he is slower now he wasnt able to counterattack that well when put on the defensive. When he got in position he still hit the ball pretty well, but that wasnt that often the case.

 

[Tyrus]

Yes and Haase was attacking his serve especialy his 2nd serve, and since he is slower now he wasnt able to counterattack that well when put on the defensive. When he got in position he still hit the ball pretty well, but that wasnt that often the case.

Definitely giving Haase some credit and saying that i look forward to see how he does against Rafa. He has a really good game and was painting the tram lines against Blake.

 

[kishnabe]

James Blake should have an amazing run somewhere...maybe he and Fish should play some doubles again. They can crack as slam their for sure. Sad I thought they would defend their WImbledon run last year!

 

[jamesblakefan#1]

I agree with pretty much everything you said. I know his injuries have hindered his playing. I just meant that they were injuries that could happen to anyone and they weren't "old age injuries" ( I could be wrong, obviously).

I didn't consider Agassi was only mid 20s when he went down to the challengers. I just think Blake playing only top tier events and losing in the first round every time is no way to make even the smallest of comebacks.

Maybe I'm giving up too early on him, but I really think this summer could be the end for him. Blake doesn't really seem like the type to want to grind away in the challengers just to make main draws of slams and go out early, and this isn't the stage of his career where such a thing would be ideal either. Also another difference between he and Agassi is that Agassi was basically born w/ a racquet in his hand and lived his whole life playing tennis, thus when his rank went down he really had no choice but to get back to work and continue at it, as at that point in his life (I think that was pre-charities and such) he really had nothing else to do but play tennis. Blake on the other hand has plenty of things (presumably) he could do inside and outside of tennis if he feels that his career is done, and basically doesn't have to grind just to get back top 100 and make a living, unless he wants to.

 

[HunterST]

Waited to post this because I didn't want to spoil it for anyone.

Considering how Haase played Nadal, maybe the loss wasn't quite as bad as we all imagined. The grass at Wimbledon has never been his best surface, and anyone who can push Nadal like that is no slouch.

 

[bfactor61]

i think that there are just a new wave of players and james has slowly fallen off. guys like hasse are hitting the ball bigger than blake. i think that james should play a lot of 250's and a fewe challengers to get his confidence back

 

[jamesblakefan#1]

Before the injury he definitely had something left in the tank. Last fall he played well, albeit in losses. But taking Nadal to 3 sets twice, Murray to 3 sets, and then Del Po to 5 (albeit injured Del Po) still showed that he had something left. But if this injury is as bad as he makes it sound, it may be too little too late. The coaching change seemed to be working, but now the injury has thrown everything out of whack.

 

[davey25]

This summer will go a long way to deciding his future. If he has a bad summer I dont see him continuing past this year. If he has some reasonable showings though he might push onwards.

 

[Fearsome Forehand]

He is pushing 31, that is old man territory on the ATP. His days are numbered.

Agassi went through his big slump around 1997 and fell to around 130 in the world. He played a couple of Challengers, one in Vegas and lost in the final (to Christian Vinck). But, he recommitted, worked his butt off, got in tremendous shape and was number one by 1999. But, Agassi was a better player than Blake so comparing the two doesn't really work.

If Blake can get healthy, works very hard, fires his coach and gets a real coach, he could have a run and maybe get back into the top 50, but I fear he is done and will hang it up this year, or next.

If his knee is screwed up, playing Challengers isn't really going to help. He might as well take the rest of the season off, get healthy and try to get a WC into the Aussie and get his ranking back up to some decent level next year.

If his knee is okay, hard court season is starting soon so he should be able to get his ranking up to 75 or better by the US Open.

 

[Mr_Shiver]

I like Blake but the tread on his tires has worn away. Injuries and age have taken their toll. It doesn't matter how good your strokes are if you can't get in position to use. Its a shame he played such stubbornly high risk game, he definitly had the tools to do more in his career.

 

[bfactor61]

agreed. if blake does not fall back into the top 75 at the end of this year i think that he is done......i herd he enjoys playing poker, always something to fall back on

 

[jamesblakefan#1]

If Blake can get healthy, works very hard, fires his coach and gets a real coach, he could have a run and maybe get back into the top 50, but I fear he is done and will hang it up this year, or next.

He already fired Brian Barker the end of last year and got Kelly Jones. How many coaches do you need to fire?

Coaching in general can be overrated. A new coach likely won't make Blake change his tactics, especially at this point in his career. Tactics are the reason why he didn't accomplish more during his run at the top, too high risk, doesn't win in the long run within a slam.

But to sum up - I don't know if a new coach would help, that would've been the move 2 years ago, but not now in the twilight of his career.

 

[Fearsome Forehand]

He already fired Brian Barker the end of last year and got Kelly Jones. How many coaches do you need to fire?

Coaching in general can be overrated. A new coach likely won't make Blake change his tactics, especially at this point in his career. Tactics are the reason why he didn't accomplish more during his run at the top, too high risk, doesn't win in the long run within a slam.

But to sum up - I don't know if a new coach would help, that would've been the move 2 years ago, but not now in the twilight of his career.

I agree coaching can be overrated. I think JB would have to hire someone like Stefanki or Gilbert to make a real difference. But, if his knee is toast, a coach won't make any difference. I am glad to hear JB finally let Barker go.

You are correct that his style of play is high risk based on a relatively flat FH which when on is a big weapon and when off means a short match for Blake.

I was never a big JB fan but now I feel sort of sorry for him. Would be nice to see him make a run before he retires. He was never a very strong player mentally. I have seen him choke away so many matches. He did make it to #4 ranking in the world at one point which is much farther than I ever expected him to go. But, he never won a major tournament. Most of his 10 tours wins were 32 draws. I think Indy and DC were probably his biggest wins (64? draws). He hasn't won any tournament for 3 years. Not a good sign. And now he has to fight his way through the draw as an unseeded player which is so much harder than coming in as a relatively high seed.

 

[jamesblakefan#1]

I agree coaching can be overrated. I think JB would have to hire someone like Stefanski or Gilbert to make a real difference. But, if his knee is toast, a coach won't make any difference. I have never heard of Kelly Jones but glad to hear JB finally let Barker go.

You are correct that his style of play is high risk based on a relatively flat FH which when on is a big weapon and when off means a short match for Blake.

I was never a big JB fan but now I feel sort of sorry for him. Would be nice to see him make a run before he retires. He was never a very strong player mentally. I have seen him choke away so many matches. He did make it to #4 ranking in the world at one point which is much farther than I ever expected him to go. But, he never won a major tournament. Most of his 10 tours wins were 32 draws. I think Indy and DC were probably his biggest wins (64? draws). He hasn't won any tournament for 3 years. Not a good sign.

Basically agree with everything you said. Blake was always too stubborn to change his game and pull back just a bit, and that often led to him losing matches he should have won. I think PMac even said in his book that Blake was one of the most stubborn players on tour and wouldn't change his game no matter what, because he felt the high risk game was best for him. I've heard Blake basically admit this in interviews throughout the years.

I think that may be part of why he didn't search out a coach for so long - he knew Barker would put up w/ him playing that way where a Gilbert or Stefanski may have been far less tolerant and forced him to change, which is something he wouldn't have wanted to do. Even once he made the change it was Barker who initiated it and recommended it, not Blake. He may have been too loyal in the end to Barker, instead of bringing in someone else even if it meant keeping Barker,similar to what Djokovic did w/ Martin and Vajda (though that didn't work out too well).