Resurgent Blake Streaks Past Rusedski Into Second Round

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

The New York Sun

Considering all the misfortune he has endured in the last year and a half, drawing a dangerous first-round opponent at the U.S. Open did not worry James Blake in the least.


Fresh off his second career title last weekend at the Pilot Pen in New Haven, Blake looked sharp in a 7-5, 7-6 (3), 6-3 win over Greg Rusedski, the no. 28 seed. After suffering through a broken neck, a rare virus that paralyzed half his face, and the death of his father, Blake, who missed last year’s U.S. Open, has returned to Arthur Ashe Stadium full of confidence.


“I feel like I’m playing better than I was a few years ago when I was 22 in the world,” Blake said. “I’m interested to see how far it’s going to go.”


Besides the strength of his performance, Blake had another thing to be pleased about on a day of strength-sapping, illness-inducing humidity: His match lasted less than two hours. Other players were not so lucky.


Gael Monfils, a 18-year-old from France and formerly the world’s top junior, lost a controversial contest to another young talent, 18-year-old Novak Djokovic, over four hours and five sets, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 0-6, 7-5. Djokovic, from Serbia and Montenegro, took two bathroom breaks and three medical timeouts to treat cramps and breathing difficulties, which blamed on allergies. Despite the weather, the delays raised eyebrows among fans and Monfils, who stood by during a 12-minute timeout in the middle of the fifth set.


“I’m really sorry, Gael is a good friend of mine,” said Djokovic, who also is 18. “But I had to do it, because the weather is so bad.”


Michael Llodra of France could not be accused of gamesmanship. The 25-year-old struggled mightily against Carlos Moya, falling behind 6-4, 6-4, 2-1 before conceding defeat. As he walked back to the locker room from Court 7, he paused at a bench outside Court 5, then passed out.


Medical staff rushed to the scene, where they propped Llodra’s legs on the bench and covered him in ice. A crowd gathered around the fallen player, who lay motionless as medics filled him with intravenous fluids. Doctors eventuall had Llodra wheeled to an ambulance on a stretcher.


Other effects of the heat and humidity were discernable around the grounds. Andy Murray vomited twice during the fifth set of his victory (see notebook). Feliciano Lopez, a free-swinging Spaniard, soaked through his Rafael Nadal-style capri pants and left a pile of sawdust (to dry his hands) beneath his chair.


With the warm, thick air threatening to push everyone to the brink of dehydration, not to mention rain in the forecast, world no. 1 Roger Federer, who opened the day on Arthur Ashe, decided that he had better make quick work of his opponent, Ivo Minar of the Czech Republic. The Swiss star need just an hour to post a 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 victory.


“I was ready for delays today,” Federer said. “Took some magazines along in case something goes wrong.”


Federer’s match ended before fans had a chance to make Ashe seem half full, but the scene livened up when Blake stepped on court and members of his cheering entourage took their seats.


Tournament officials may have to schedule Blake on Ashe for the remainder of his time here, as the other courts might not be able to accommodate his band of well-wishers. At the Pilot Pen last weekend, Blake said he handed out about 100 tickets a day to friends, family, and neighbors who comforted him after he crashed head first into a net post last May, and who laughed at him – and made him laugh – when his face froze from zoster and he could only crack a half smile. By the sound of the crowd yesterday, several thousand would have fit under the heading, “Guest of Blake.”


“I don’t know how much I can give back to them, but everything I do, it’s probably not enough for how much they’ve done for me,” he said.


Blake could not have given a better effort yesterday. He broke out to a 4-2 lead, but played a sloppy service game and fell behind 5-4. When it mattered most, though, he came up with perfect serves – saving a set point in the first set with a service winner and then two more in the second with aces. Blake ended the match with a backhand passing shot down the line, one of 52 winners.


Rusedski, a former U.S. Open finalist who turns 32 next week, plays an attacking style of tennis that is increasingly rare. Having played well of late, he figured to prove a difficult opponent for Blake, who had little time to recover from an intense week in New Haven.


Unfortunately for Rusedski, too many players can hit the laser-like passing shots that Blake resorted to yesterday, whether on the run, off balance, or five feet off the court. In today’s game, there is no margin for error for a serve-and-volley player. Whenever Rusedski left an alley open, Blake found a line or a corner, thwarting Rusedski 29 of 63 times he approached the net.


“He couldn’t miss anything today,” Rusedski said. “Everything was working for him, especially on the big points.”


“Everything was working for him” – that’s something James Blake has not heard about his life in quite a while. He clearly likes the sound of it.


The New York Sun

© 2025 The New York Sun Company, LLC. All rights reserved.

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The material on this site is protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used.

The New York Sun

Sign in or  Create a free account

or
By continuing you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use