Reviews Write New Review
Location
Booking Fee
Fee: $##,###Get Pricing
Virtual Fee: $##,###Get Pricing
[email protected]
James Blake is a former American professional tennis player, known for his speed and powerful, flat forehand. As of August 2013, Blake had amassed 24 career finals appearances, and his career-high singles ranking was World No. 4. His career highlights include reaching the finals of the 2006 Tennis Masters Cup, the semifinals of the Beijing Olympics and the quarterfinals of the Australian Open in 2008 and the US Open in 2005 and 2006.
Blake got his start in tennis at the age of 5 and began to gain notoriety in high school at Fairfield High School in Connecticut -- the high school renamed the courts after Blake in 2006. After graduating, Blake went to Harvard for two years before turning pro in 1999. He was the nation's top collegiate player in his sophomore year.
The early part of Blake's career -- even dating back to when he was diagnosed with severe scoliosis at the age of 13 -- was plagued by injury and illness. In 2004, he fractured a vertebrae in his neck, knocking him out of competition for two months, and he contracted Zoster, a condition that affects hearing and vision that left half of Blake's face temporarily paralyzed. In 2005, he was named the ATP Comeback Player of the Year, and in 2007, he published a book, Breaking Back: How I Lost Everything and Won Back My Life, that hit No. 15 on the New York Times best-seller list.In 2008 Blake was awarded the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year by the Association of Tennis Professionals.
In 2017, following an incident in 2015 where he was wrongfully profiled, assaulted, and arrested by a plainclothes officer in New York, Blake published his second book, Ways of Grace: Stories of Activism, Adversity, and How Sports Can Bring Us Together which details the incident and his shift to activism as a result.
Related Speakers View all
Earvin “Magic” Johnson
Basketball Hall of Famer, Entrepreneur, Philanthropi...
|
|
Katherine Reutter
Former American Short Track Speed Skater; Two-Time M...
|
|
Noelle Pikus-Pace
American Retired Skeleton Racer; Silver Medalist at ...
|
|
Jim Furyk
PGA Tour Professional & 2018 Ryder Cup Captain
|
|
Danielle Scott-Arruda
The Only Five-Time Olympian in U.S. Volleyball
|
|
Simone Biles
Most Decorated Gymnast Ever & Record Holder for Most...
|
|
Jordyn Wieber
Gold Medal-Winning Artistic Gymnast for the U.S. Wom...
|
|
John Register
Paralympic Silver Medalist, Desert Storm Veteran & C...
|
|
Venus Williams
Professional Tennis Player, Four-Time Olympic Gold M...
|
|
Serena Williams
Iconic Professional Tennis Player & Olympic Gold Med...
|
|
Michael Phelps
Retired Professional Swimmer; Most Decorated Olympic...
|
|
Mike Modano
Former Professional Hockey Player; Stanley Cup Winne...
|
|
Mia Hamm
Retired Professional Soccer Forward; Two-Time Olympi...
|
|
Roger Federer
Professional Tennis Player & Record Holder for Most ...
|
|
Dominique Dawes
Three-time Olympian, Olympic Gold Medalist, Healthy ...
|
|
Lindsay Davenport
Retired World No. 1 Tennis Player & International Te...
|
|
Bonnie Blair
USA Speed Skater & Olympic Gold Medalist
|
|
Vontae Johnson
Head Coach of the Cheer Program at Trinity Valley Co...
|
|
Rose Lavelle
Midfielder for the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team...
|
|
Naomi Osaka
Professional Tennis Player & 2021 Laureus World Spor...
|