Full name is James Riley Blake…Began playing aged five with older brother, Thomas, a former Harvard All-American, father, Thomas, (passed away in July ‘04) and mother, Betty, who was raised in England…Has 3 half-brothers and 1 half-sister…At 13, diagnosed with severe scoliosis (curvature of spine) and wore back brace 18 hours a day…Attended Fairfield (Conn.) High School with GRAMMY Award winner John Mayer and PGA Tour pro J.J. Henry…School renamed tennis courts after him in 2006…In 1999 moved to Saddlebrook Academy to train…Lists Arthur Ashe as role model…Member of Harlem Junior Tennis Program from ages 5-10, and inspired to play game after Ashe spoke there…Played 2 seasons at Harvard (‘98-99)…Finished as No. 1 collegiate player, reaching 1999 NCAA singles final (l. to Florida’s Jeff Morrison)…Voted to ATP Player Council in June 2006, served as Vice President…In July 2007, released “Breaking Back: How I Lost Everything and Won Back My Life” (co-authored by Andrew Friedman) that reached No. 15 on New York Times Best Seller list…Since 2003, holds annual charity event that’s raised more than $3 million for cancer research…Founded Thomas Blake Sr. Memorial Research Fund to support cancer research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering…Has hit batting practice home runs at Major League Baseball stadiums in Miami and Houston…Named Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of Year in 2008...Blake and his wife, Emily Snider, have one child, Riley Elizabeth...Physical trainer is Rory Cordial.

 (Aug. 2008)
 (May 2009)