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Send your question to: cdgriff@gmail.com. Now organized by subject matter. Words of Advice and Inspiration How about telling us about an interesting place you have visited, a book you have read, a unique thing you have done (ie, playing tennis on an airplane wing) ? Any special charities? Susan Burkhalter, Collierville, Tennessee susan, for an interesting place
i've visited, i'd have to say rome has been one of the most exciting
places i've been. all of the sights there are just incredible. and the
food was amazing, i was ordering about 5 meals a day there. as for books
that i've read, my favorite book is "days of grace" by arthur
ashe. it's an autobiography and since he's a role model of mine, i was
extremely interested in it. i really like biographies because i think
those true stories are even more exciting than fiction. the last book
i read Hi James - I've enjoyed
watching you play since I saw you in the NCAA finals a couple of years
ago in Athens, GA, and have followed your career since then. I have
some questions about your conditioning program described in the recent
Tennis magazine. jim, my workout's vary depending on what kind of shape i am in at the time and what kind of workout i have already done that day on the court. but as for the 400's and 200's, it's usually around 3 or 4 400's and maybe 6 200's. but then there are other aspects of the workout like oncourt agility drills or shorter sprints as well. for the abs and back, i just do as much as possible. in the morning i always do crunches, obliques, and then "superman" exercises for my back. good luck to you with the scoliosis. James, I've been trying to watch as much of the U.S. Open as possible and I must say, you're doing a great job so far. Keep it up! I think you've got a big chance of winning a Grand Slam! Anyway, I'm a sophomore in high school, preparing to start my second season of tennis. I've been practicing everyday and I've played matches with numerous players from the neighboring cities and towns. 2 years ago, I was told that I had a mild case of scoliosis and that it wasn't serious enough to need anything. A week ago, I was told that it had gotten progressively worse. The doctors don't seem to know what the cause is, although my parents and I seem to think that it's because my left leg is longer than the other. I've had excruciating pain in my left shoulder, cramps in my left leg, and strains and pain in my back. You've mentioned in a reply to an e-mail that you had to wear a back brace through high school. Was there anything else you had to do in order to help correct the problems you had with the scoliosis, and did quitting tennis ever cross your mind during those times? Kristen kristen, i hope you are able to continue to play tennis. i wore a brace all through high school, otherwise i just tried to do a lot of strengthening and flexibility exercises. i was told to keep my stomach and back as strong as possible to try to prevent the curve from progressing. i never thought of quitting tennis unless the pain forced me to, or the curve got worse and i would have to get the surgery to repair it. but neither of those has happened yet, but it is still a fear for me that it could happen at some point. i just try to keep a positive attitude and keep up with my exercises. good luck to you. Hello James! I was just
down at the US Open and got to see you play for the first time in person.
Your first round match was wonderful to watch and it was so great to
see you practice with your brother Thomas. My entire family was at the
Open and every time we would see you, we would say to one another, "what
a classy, genuine, and all around good guy that James Blake is."
You really have everyone in New York and the US pulling for you. Also
when I was down there I heard for the first time that you have scoliosis.
I have it, as well, and I had to wear a back brace for several years.
Luckily I was in a Boston Brace so I was able to stay active while I
was in it. I was wondering if yours was a Milwaukee Brace or Boston
Brace? And how much it restricted you from activities? Your a real role
model and I look up to you very much. Good luck with the with the Open
and the rest of the year. All the Best, elizabeth, my brace was a boston brace, just like yours. it restricted me so that i really couldn't do too much while i was in the brace. i had to just try to be extremely active for the six hours i wasn't in the brace. that would be the time when i was training for tennis and working out. thanks for your support and good luck with the scoliosis. Hi James, Watching tennis is so
addicting!! I've followed the big tournaments for a number years. I'm
finally able to differentiate between strokes, player's styles, and
follow the lingo. For the longest time I could not tell when a player
"ran around their back-hand" to hita forehand. I saw you do
it the other day and I was able to call it! I was excited. When I was
young my parents tried to get me involved in tennis, but I was I have a couple of questions
I hope you have time 1) Does the tour stop in the Chicagoland area? I'm a therapeutic massage
therapy student. So I have a 2) Is massage a part of
your regimen? If so how often 3) Do therapists travel with the tour? Thanks for your time!
I enjoy watching you play! I Quiana L. Sargeant quiana, i'm glad you're
able to follow tennis better now, that's great to hear that we're making
new fans. unfortunately, i don't stop in the chicagoland area for the
tour. i guess the closest stop would be cincinnati for me. there used
to be a smaller tournament in winnetka that i would play, but i don't
think that's on the schedule anymore, it's too bad because i liked it
there. as for massage, i get them pretty frequently on tour. there are
usually a few massage therapists at each tour stop. i find it is very
James, I just wanted to say that I had the pleasure of watching you at Legg Mason Tennis Classic in DC a few weeks ago. I was fortunate to watch you at the Semi-Finals w/ Agassi and the Finals w/ Paradorn Srichaphan. I have to say that I have never felt so much excitement and suspense before. I was completely on the edge of my seat! You played exceptionally well, and you have a fan for life. I was touched by the kind words you spoke at the end of the tournament. The obvious respect you have for your trainer and your agent was sincerely revealed. You seem grounded and grateful for all that life has given you. I wish you all the best in the world and I will be watching all your matches. I am so happy for your win. PS I read in a magazine that you have Scoliosis (curvature of the spine)...as do I....Have you ever tried Pilates? Tina tina, i have never tried pilates, but i have not talked to any specialists who recommend this specifically for scoliosis. basically i just make sure to do my stomach and back exercises every day to keep them as strong as possible. i also try to stretch a lot more than i used to and get frequent massages. i think all of this helps the curve from getting worse and being extremely painful.
Hi J. Firstly, I would like
to thank you for broadening the scope of sports that young black kids
feel they are able to play. Too often, they feel that basketball and
american football are their only options. Now they can see that tennis
is enjoyable and can be just as competitive. I usually manage to get a lot of sleep. It's something that I think is a very important part of training and staying in great shape physically and mentally. Getting nervous and losing a little bit of sleep the night before a match happens to me once in a while, very infrequently now that I've gotten used to it. But for it to happen for 4 days seems like something that could definitely affect your play. I usually try to get between 8-9.5 hours of sleep the night before a match. James, First off I'd like to say that you absolutely rock! I'm a freshman in high school and I just seriously started playing tennis this year (I've played on and off for about four years.) I practice about six days a week and I run and practice my toss for my serve in my spare time. Tennis has practically become my life and I still don't feel like I'm doing enough. I've just lately started to take an absolute ton of private lessons and I can tell my game is really improving. I really want to be good at tennis, but I don't think I'm doing enough to reach my goals. I was wondering how often you practiced before you went pro and if you encourage weight training. My coach is fine with it but my mom doesn't want me to overdo anything and I was wondering what you thought. I'm going to try to come and actually see one of your matches in person (I can't wait!!!) Good luck with your scoliosis and your career! :) Oh and by the way you have the absolute coolest hair ever! ;) Love, It sounds to me like you are working very hard already. But hard work in tennis is very individual. It needs to be at a point where you feel comfortable with the work you have done, that will show when you step on the court as to whether or not you have the confidence to win. As for me, I probably hit 5 days a week when I was in high school for about an hour and a half per day. That would increase during the summer, and sometimes decrease if I had a heavy load of schoolwork for a little while. As for weight training, I would never encourage it except for very light weights until you have finished growing. It can sometimes have a negative effect on you if you lift too much before you are fully grown. I think the best type of exercises to do before you have finished growing is body weight exercises. Things like pushups, pull-ups, sit ups and things like that can be very effective. Dear James, this is Lloyd. I sent u a question when i was 8 and now i am 9 and my county champion. Could you tell me how to handle with cheats when they cheat all of the time and get the point.Thanks The way I always dealt
with cheats was as soon as I suspected they were cheating on purpose,
I would call for a linesjudge. If it was practice or something that
didn't matter, I would just treat it that way, as if it didn't matter.
I would just worry about the practice and usually feel sorry for them
that they have to do that. I wouldn't let it get you down, just don't
ever stoop to their level and don't let them ruin your efforts to enjoy
the game. My questions
today are regarding my serve, forehand and backhand. Lately, I have
tried a variety of grips for my forehand but none have worked out. However,
at the moment, I am trying a semi-western. What kind of grip do you
use and how do you attack the high balls? In regards to my backhand,
I use the regular continental grip, but it's hard for me to generate
enough topspin to keep the ball in the court. What should I do/use?
Finally is my serve. When I first started, my serve was very strong
and was the key to my whole game. But as the years go by, it seems that
the speed keeps lowering. I don't think it's the wrist snap, but I think
I am not generating power from my legs. What should I do to increase
the speed/ leg power since I use a thrust launch similar to yours? What
are some exercises to help me get a stronger serve? Anyways, I am looking
forward to your response and I am looking forward to watching you play
more. Keep up the great work!! Good job!!! Ashish, I think many of the things you are talking about are very individual aspects of your game. For me, I use a semi western grip on my forehand. To attack high balls, I just realize that I have to still have margin over the net and I'm able to swing harder since the ball is already above the net. For my backhand, I use a western grip, the continental grip that you are using is very difficult to create spin with. It is much better for slice or hitting flat, but if you are looking to create spin, maybe you should think about adjusting that a little bit. For your serve, one of the best exercises to do for your legs is the leg press. Lunges are also good, and plyometric exercises to create more explosion. Hey James, I'm
Kristin. I talked to you on your brother's cell phone at the Houston
tournament, but you probably don't remember that. Anyways, I broke my
finger a couple months ago and got really out of shape. I was wondering
if you could give me some good tips on things to do to move faster around
the court? Thanks! kristin, i remember talking to you on my brother's cellphone. sorry if i was in kind of a bad mood cause i had just lost and didn't feel too great. as for moving faster on the court, i think there are many different ways to get faster and you have to find the way you like and can stick with all the time. for me, one thing that i think helped me a lot was that i jumped a lot of rope when i was young. that is very effective to really get your feet moving. you see a whole lot of boxer's doing it and i think it can be one of the most useful tools for tennis as well. James- Hi, I am nationally ranked junior player right now and currently go to a public high school. It seems to me like a lot of the girls I play against are home schooled and have an opportunity to play and train more than me. It is harder for me to travel because I have so much work to make up but I still manage. I can still compete on their level but I was wondering what your thoughts are on this subject and if it was the same when you played junior tournaments. Oh and by the way you are awesome and I love watching you play. :-) Danielle, 17 danielle, when i was growing up there were plenty of kids that were home schooled, or went to tennis acadamies that catered strictly to tennis. so i was behind many of them, but i just knew that being well-rounded and going to public school was the best way for me. it will all even out when you get a little older and you know you've put in the work. it helps you to be a little bit fresher. they can very easily get burnt out from playing too much at such a young age. Hey James. I just want you
to know that I'm your biggest fan in South America. I hope you keep
on moving up in the rankings till you hit the top spot. You are truly
a great role model: down to earth and positive. I'm following your progress
currently at the Aussie Open and you're doing great. Keep it up. keimo, i used to get very angry after every point i lost. that's natural to a very competitive person. but the best thing to do is realize that once the point is over, there is nothing that can be done to change it. the only thing you can do is prepare for the next point. the best way to do that is put the last point out of your mind and be ready to play your best tennis on each point. James, meagan, you are right about staying positive, that's very important. i think what helps for me is realizing that i can only control what i am doing and anything else i shouldn't worry about. if i just play the whole match trying to play my best and giving 100% effort then there's really nothing i have to be ashamed about. i hope on that day i can play well enough to win, and if not, i tried my best. Hey James, I'm a very serious tennis player and I get a lot of blisters on my feet and I know that you play a lot more than I do and I was just wondering how you keep your feet from getting so many blisters and so beat up? Thanks and good luck in the U.S. Open! Haley, 13 haley, sorry about the blisters. the only thing i have done is all the playing has made my feet very calloused. so i don't really get blisters anymore. i think the only thing to do when you get them is this stuff called nuskin. it won't make them totally go away, but i think it should help some. I am currently a top 60 nationally ranked junior and I was wondering what you did as a junior player and how you made the transition from junior nationals to college to the tour. Thanks for your time, you are the best and I love watching you play!! love danielle danielle, congratulations on your success so far in the juniors. my transition to college tennis was not as difficult as i expected. i did very well my freshman year when i didn't have too many expectations. the level of tennis was not incredibly different. as for the jump to the pros, that was more difficult than i ever could have predicted. i think that is the hardest jump for any player. the level of tennis on the pro tour is just incredible. every guy on the tour is very talented and they prepare for each match so well. it took me quite a while to make that adjustment to be so professional about my career. good luck to you. Dear James, Jin cha jin, i haven't seen that website, but maybe they've done some analysis to prove me wrong. the only evidence i have is that my serve is about 120 miles per hour, and if i only use my wrist, i can serve about 110 miles per hour. so i still believe it's where the most power comes from on my serve. as for the luxilon big banger string, i haven't had any problems with it, if you have to string it tight, then just use what feels comfortable to you. Hi James! sidsel, i really don't know if it's too late. it's difficult to make that assessment, but i would never tell anyone it's too late. but i would also never tell anyone to have the end goal of becoming a professional tennis player. the chances of that are always slim, no matter what kind of talent you have or what kind of drive you have. so i would encourage your friend to have fun playing tennis and not worry about being a professional, if it happens, it will happen, but there's no use in being disappointed if it doesn't happen. Hi, anne, thanks for cheering
for me in davis cup. i'm glad i have a french fan or two. as for my
forehand it has always been my weapon when i played, but lately is has
developed faster and faster. the power on it comes mainly from the timing,
this has always been a strength of mine. it really doesn't put too much
strain on my body, it's just a natural swing, but when timed right What kind of advice would
James Blake give to a younger person who wanted to become a professional
tennis player, but wasn't sure they had what it took. Thanks art, the advice i would give to a young tennis player is always the same. have fun. that is the most important part, if it stops being fun, put the rackets down for a little while. it is just crazy to plan on tennis as a career at such a young age, so you need to worry about other things in life. if you realize that tennis is what you truly enjoy, and you have the ability to go far in the sport, it will become apparent as you get older. but you only have one childhood, so enjoy it. Hi, lloyd, when i was 8 years old, i didn't play a whole lot of tennis. i was like you in the fact that i played a lot of sports for fun. i probably only played once a week when i was that age. it was usually just a fun hit with my parents or something. hey james my name is liz i saw u @ arthur ashe kids day and i thought that u were a gr8 tennis player i have been following u through the years u have been playin. i was just wondering on how u get ur toss for ur serve perfect every time cuz i cant seem to get a hold of that. well i hope u get to write back a.s.a.p. *~liz~ liz, i don't necessarily get my toss perfect every time. there are some times that i have to catch it because i tossed it off line. but the way i stay so consistent with it just came from a lot of practice. that is something that a lot of young players don't ever think about practicing, but it will really help. the best example of this is pete sampras, his toss is almost always perfect. it's very easy to practice and shouldn't be too tiring or anything, so get out and work on it. good luck. Hey James, it's Yussuf from
Jamaica here.. I play tennis for Jamaica and i am currently finishing
up college at Troy State University. I was wondering,what is your mind
set and approach mentally if you're playing a tornament with players
you've beat before but lost to on the previous meeting. Also, when will
we get to see you around Jamaica..?? You know i got you if you ever
come down and, I see a few tennis stars went down to Bahamas for the
Knowles celebrity tornament, and i think Jamaica would also benefit
greatly from visits of a similar caliber. just Keep us in mind. Thank
you.. yussuf, when i'm playing a player that i've beaten before, but lost to the last time, i just prepare the same way i do for every match. i think about the best way i can play to control the match. but knowing that i've beaten them before, that makes a difference in how i adapt on the court. if things aren't going my way, i try to recall how i beat that player in the first place, and recreate that. i'm not sure when i'll make it down to jamaica, my schedule is pretty busy these days. Congrats on your Cincy title!! I watched both your singles and doubles first round matches. In particular, your singles match, against Pavel, was really exciting. You probably don't remember me, but I was the girl in the "Go James" shirt on Monday and Tuesday. On Monday, one of the guys with you took a picture of me, after I watched you practice. I was wondering if you knew who he was. Also, I'm working on my one-handed backhand, any tips? I'm a lefty, but any advice would help. Thanks and good luck in DC!! Kristin, 18, Notre Dame, IN kristin, i did notice the people in the "go james" shirts. thanks for going to all that trouble. that was one of my best friends that took the picture. he just graduated from college and as a graduation gift, his dad let him travel with me all summer through europe and for the hardcourt season in the states. so he was just taking pictures of all the experiences he had. anyway, it's tough to give general tips on a backhand without seeing your form, but if you're just switching from a 2 handed backhand, all i can say is have patience. when i switched, it was extremely frustrating at first, but you just have to believe that it's a good decision for the long run. Dear James Blake james from chicago, i do a lot of training for my endurance on the court. i do some distance running about 3-4 times a week when i'm home as well as a lot of on court fitness exercises. then there are many middle distance sprints that i do like 200 and 400 meter sprints. as for exercises to make your serve harder, the main thing to get power on your serve in the wrist snap. if you watch the hardest servers, the wrist snap they get is amazing. all the rest of the motion makes a difference as well including having powerful legs, shoulders, and stomach. hi james honey, if you get nervous when you get onto the court, i would advice you to try to just have more fun. don't worry about your coach telling you about potential or anything like that, just enjoy the game. if you can't do that, then there's a problem and let your coach or parents that you're not enjoying the game. when i'm having fun, i tend to not even think about nerves, so i hope it helps you as well. Hey James! I am a fan of yours, and as a matter of fact, i like the whole Davis Cup Team. Go Team Win! :-) Anyways, I have two questions for you. One: What do you do to get your feet going in a match? and Two: Can you give me Andy Roddick's Phone Number or E-mail address? I'm his BIGGEST FAN! Thanks a Lot Gabby Kay gabby, what most tennis players do before a match is much more than most people realize when they see them go out and just hit for those 5 minutes at the beginning. generally i warm up for about a half an hour 2 hours before the match is supposed to start. then i get something light to eat. after that i get stretched and my ankles taped. then with about 15 minutes before the match starts i start riding a stationary bike, or jumping rope, or just running in place, and this is my time to myself where i think about my game plan and the task at hand. as for andy's phone number and email, i just don't know if he would appreciate it if i gave out his personal information on my website, but i know he's got his own website, so look for that, and he always appreciates his fans. James, brandon, i replace my tennis shoes about every week when i'm playing on hard courts. they get chewed up so quickly from the brand of tennis i play and how long i am playing for during a tournament. on clay courts, they last much longer, they just get worn down after about a month of wear. i haven't really thought about running a tennis camp ever, that might be something i revisit when my career as a player is winding down, but not right now. as for tennis being a good way to meet women, i guess it's one way, but i've actually never dated a tennis player or really any girl that knew a lot about tennis. Dear James, meghan, i used to know your frustration exactly. that happens a lot in junior tennis. if it's possible, you should always get a lines judge if you feel your opponent is not calling the lines fairly. but i used to get just as mad at those kind of calls. but as i got older, i realized that there is really nothing that can be done about it and you have to find a way to put it behind you or it will cost you even more points in playing angry. that won't help anything. it's very difficult to do when you feel you're not being treated fairly, but i think you can do it. Hey James, I'm Erin. I recently saw you play and practice everyday except Thursday at the tournament in Cincinnati. I got your autograph and a pic of you with me. But anyways, I was wondering what kinds of things you eat on the day of one of your matches (like breakfast, lunch, etc.). Thanks! -Erin, 17, Cincinnati erin, on days of matches, it depends what time i play to determine what i am going to eat. i always eat plenty of chicken or some sort of protein the night before. then if i play early, i just have a light breakfast with some fruit, bagels and maybe cereal before i play. if i play later, i eat as big a breakfast as possible with eggs, fruit, toast, maybe waffles, whatever i can find. then for lunch i would just eat a small sandwich or something and a bagel or a tennis bar. Hey James, mario, as for my match
against grosjean, i was not tired or fatigued. he merely played too
well for me on that day. he is one of the top players in the world and
was playing in front of his home crowd. i wish i could have played a
little bit better, but i did my best out there and feel that i can beat
him in the future. as for your other questions, i started playing tennis
pretty young, maybe around 5 or 6, but not taking it seriously till
much later. there were plenty of letdowns in my teenage years including
not even making it to nationals a few times. but every tennis player
has to lose a lot before they can improve to the point of winning more
than they lose. i never had a main goal of becoming a pro tennis player,
so that wasn't an issue. my goal was to keep improving and every match
was just a goal in itself. i just tried to win every match i was in
and not worry about the next. if you are struggling with confidence,
i just want to tell you that the best thing to think about is to only
worry about the things you can Hi James, Melissa B melissa, thanks for watching in newport, i will be back there next year. i don't do any relaxation exercises before a tournament, but i try to relax right before matches. i always take at least 5-10 matches to be alone and just focus on the task at hand and block out everything else. as for my diet, i don't eat red meat, but that's not for tennis, it's because that's how i grew up, so it's just normal for me. otherwise, i don't really follow any kind of specific diet. I'm 12 - from Vermont
and Connecticut - and have just started playing and winning B12 Challenger
tournaments in the New England section. I'm tall and my coach says I
have a 16 year old game. I'd like to be a pro someday. jamie, when i was 12, i trained (if you can call it that) in connecticut at the tennis club of trumbull. at the age of 12 tennis was still just a hobby of mine, i played about 3 times a week at that age. i was also taught to have an older game as well though. but i really didn't worry about anything like that at that age. i urge you not to put any kinds of pressure on yourself like that. i was dreaming of being a tennis player at that age, but never really thought of it as an option. all i did was try to get better every time i stepped onto the court. and the inner feeling of competition and the fact that i absolutely hated losing just drove me to improve. please don't let coaches put any unrealistic goals in your head and at this age your main goal should be to have fun and improve. good luck to you. Hey James, andrew z., the process of turning pro is not quite like other sports where you get drafted, or signed by a team. if you are playing in usta tournaments right now, that is a good start. if you have success in those, you will find opportunities to play in bigger tournaments (usually nationals). then if you continue to do well, you should try to play in some small pro tournaments called futures. if you play those, you can start accumulating atp points, these are what determine your ranking. you have to get enough of these to start being accepted into the draws of bigger atp tournaments. so good luck to you. Hey James Blake, marlow, i'm glad you are a good tennis player. unfortunately there are a lot of talented players that don't ever play tennis anymore because of the mental strain it causes. tennis, like most sports, is mainly a mental game. the best players in the world always have amazing talent, but that absolutely has to be accompanied by amazing mental stamina. i don't know how to encourage you to keep your focus because that is something that is very difficult to teach. all i can tell you is to do your best on the court and try not to get too discouraged if you lose. as long as you do your best, you shouldn't have any regrets and that will hopefully keep you playing tennis for longer than most people. hi andy, i'm glad to see there are still some serve-and-volleyers alive in the game. one lesson that i think would help you and many other young serve-and-volleyers is to not change the direction of the ball. if the ball is returned crosscourt to you, just block it right back in that direction. that makes a far easier volley than to try to change the direction and bring more variables into the stroke. good luck to you. hey James : Josh Toups josh, i understand what you're going through switching to a one-handed backhand. i use a grip that is similar to an extreme western forehand grip. those balls above your chest will most likely continue to be difficult for a long time. one way to help with that is work on your upper body strength. otherwise, a good play is to work on the slice from above your shoulders. that is a play i use somewhat effectively. no matter what you do, those balls always give one handed backhands a little bit of difficulty. there's no secret that i can give you, it will just take a lot of practice and try not to get frustrated, it will get better. Hello James, congratulations on your first title. i have a question to propose, My friends are better than me because they have been playing for about 5-9 yrs and iv only played 2 and a half, but i practiced close to 5 hrs every day and i moved my self to a 4.5 level player. But still they beat me. So how do you come close or beat some one ofa high level in tennis? you must know from beating andre for the first time, can u give me any pointer....thanks...and good luck inyour later grand slams - anthony anthony, that's a difficult question to answer. there is no specific way that i can tell you to just beat a high level player. all i can tell you is to play the game that is most comfortable to you and that will most likely give you your most success. good luck in beating all those players. hi james! this kaye from the philippines. i've been a fan since i saw u play against andre agassi a month ago. u know, tennis is not that big here in our country but i really want to be a great tennis player. can u give me some basic tips on how to play well. actually, im just beginning to learn tennis. i'm really determined to learn this sport cuz it's not just fun to play, but it helps me a lot in losing weight. i want to become fit but im not really into working out thats why i choose tennis. i hope you will answer my question. uh, i would like to ask you some personal question, if its ok with u. um, i'm a andy roddick fan, too. in one of the messages that was posted in his community message board, they're talking about andy/mandy couple thing and james/cristina milian couple thingy. they said that ur dating cristina milian. im just curious thats why i'm asking you if it's true.. thanks for taking time to read my question and i would really appreciate it if you will take time answering my questions. luv ya to bitz!!=)_ its me, kaye, thanks for being a fan all the way there in the phillipines. as for basic tips, i would just say to have fun on the court and watch the ball. the rest can be up to you and whatever makes you feel comfortable. as for if i'm dating christina milian, that's not true. i don't have a girlfriend right now and i'm not sure how that rumor got started. i really like the few of her songs that i've heard though, but that's as far as our relationship goes. Hello Mr.Blake. I am Zach
I am not lucky enough to have goten to meet you hopefully i will though.
But my question is i am going into highschool next year and i was wondering
what kind of serve should i learn over the winter so people dont always
hit a winner off my serve and can you tell me a page were i can learn
it and are u ever comming to chicago zach, there's no specific serve to learn over the winter. just use the motion that feels comfortable to you, and then it's just a matter of practice. a lot of hard work is what it takes. as for chicago, i was there last year for an event with todd martin, but i don't think i'll be back there anytime soon, but i'm always watching upn and cheering for the bulls, unfortunately, there's not too much to cheer the last few years. Hey James. I was just curious as to how long you play during the average (non-match) day. What sorts of things do you do to improve? How much time is spent on tennis vs. improving fitness? I'm going to be a junior in high school and really am working on my tennis game. I love watching you and the other guys play on t.v. -- it really inspires me to achieve. Thank you for your time and good luck to you in the future! You're a great player! Thanks again, Neil Koehler, 16 neil, on a non-match day when i'm at home can sometimes vary. on average, i would guess i spend about 3-4 hours on the court practicing. that includes drilling, working on certain patterns and then playing points and serving. after that, there's usually about 45 minutes to an hour of sprints or on court footwork drills. then usually about 45 minutes of weight lifting. besides all of that, i have also started to do at least 2 days a week of distance running including about 30 minutes of jogging. Words of Advice and Inspiration: Dear James, Robyn, hello james, I'm not sure what I would do differently in my life. Probably the biggest thing that I have learned with all of the experiences that I've had is that I should never have lacked the confidence that I have now. I was pretty shy my first few years in high school because I was so small and wore a back brace. But I think now I've realized that people will like you based on the person you are as long as you are always just being kind and being yourself. But there really aren't many decisions that I have made that I regret, obviously things have gone wrong at times in my life, but each decision I make I truly believe it's the best thing for me at that time. I think that's the best way to have no regrets. Dear James Blake,
Dear James, Your fan, I was very lucky to make so many wonderful friends in college. My situation was pretty fortunate because I had 5 roommates my freshman year and still to this day 2 of them are some of my best friends in the world. Also I was surrounded by the tennis team who I immediately had a bond with. I also had my brother who was a senior to show me around, so I was about as lucky as someone can be entering college. But without all of those things, I think the best way to make friends is just be confident and be yourself. There will definitely be people who appreciate you for who you are and those are the people you probably want to be friends with anyway. As for staying in shape in the winter, you may want to look to some indoor sports like basketball or indoor soccer. Hi James, TB tb, living in fairfield and growing up there was a great experience for me. i went to public high school (go mustangs) and had many friends that knew nothing about tennis. that was the best situation for me because i really enjoy being a well-rounded person as opposed to a one dimensional tennis player. moving to florida after i left harvard was a decision based on my career. it made sense to go to a place that is perfect for my training like saddlebrook. it makes sense to be where you can train all year round outdoors and have top level players to practice with. hey james, TB, i used to play new england tournaments. i would play a few eastern tournaments, but i would get ranked in new england. good luck to you in whichever tournaments you decide to play. ------------------------------------- Hi my name is Johnny im
17, from New Zealand and i am half maori which is the native people
of New Zealand and half white and have had a lot of racial experiences
ive been playing tennis for 4 i now live in hawaii and i really admire
and look up to you and also venus and serena, i jus wanted to ask u
how u deal with rasism ? and if it has helped u to get to where u are
today? johnny, it's good to hear from you. i've been to new zealand and hawaii, and have enjoyed my experiences in both places. as for how i deal with racism, i try to educate people who show ignorance by being racist. for adults that have that feeling, i feel that generally the damage has already been done, and try to make sure they don't pass along those beliefs to their children because that is how it is perpetuated. i don't believe that anyone is born racist, it is taught by the parents and elders. i think my race has played a part in making me the person that i am today, it gives me perspective on situations that many others are never forced to face. First of all, thanks for
even getting this message! :-) See, I started playing tennis when I was 12 (April last year) and I really want to play professionally. But, most of the guys on the tour and even on college teams have been playing since they were like 6. I sometimes get discouraged because of this, and the fact that in Junior tournaments its the same problem. Can you help me? Fourth- You were born in Yonkers, I was born in Briarcliff Manor, about 20 minutes from there Sportsmanjr. sportsmanjr., don't be discouraged because you started later than others. i wasn't such a very good junior player until i was about 17 years old. i was pretty discouraged at first, but i just went on to accept how good i was and enjoy the hard work for the journey. i would suggest this as your outlook instead of focusing just on becoming a professional tennis player. James, I am one of the top ranked juniors in the U.S. but school is holding me back from dramatically improving. However, if I don't make it as a pro I want to do well in life. (Unlike most juniors from foereign countries who have nothing to fall back on because they have been traveling around the world trying to make it.) I am asking you this because you went to Harvard. It is a tough situation but your advice would be appreciated. Thanks Jay P. jay p., that is a very mature question. i'm glad you are looking at your tennis career realistically. it is a very big chance to take for anyone, no matter how much talent, to bank on a career in professional sports. i'm saddened by the fact that you think your school is holding you back in your career. i found that having to do my school work, work hard at tennis, and still have a social life was a perfect way to easily balance my schedule. it made time management much simpler. i only had so much time and i had to get the most out of it. i think you should try to put in as much effort as you can to improve your tennis without letting it effect your school work. if professional tennis is in your future, i feel that it will take its course. the only difference is it may take you a little bit more time to adjust to the top level, but if the ability and drive is there, you'll be just fine. and the way you're doing it, if it doesn't work out, you'll be set up to live a well rounded life away from the game. Hey James, my name is
Bari i live in NY and i'm 15 years old. I've been playing tennis since
i was 4. I'm on the tennis team in my school, and i was the only freshman
to make it on the team. bari, i'm sorry to hear
about your injuries. since you are so young, i would take the time off
to let yourself heal. playing through the pain could possibly make it
worse. you should see a doctor and they can give you a better idea of
what you should do. but if rest is what's recommended, then you have
to take the time off and even if you miss tennis, you have to look at
the big picture and realize that the rest is the best thing for you
at that time. and then you'll be that much more excited when you do
get the Hi James, I wanted to
congratulate you on your title success! My name is Erica Parker-Marshall
and I have just recently begun following your remarkable career. I have
heard you are an avid fan of the most consummate athlete Arthur Ashe.
(a hero of mine as well) I was wondering do you feel any added pressure
having to be an African-American role model in a sport that is predominately
white? Or do you feel that tennis provides you a platform to inspire
others like Arthur Ashe was able to do? I am a teacher at P. S 20 in Brooklyn and would love to know if sometime during the school year if you could attend and speak to some of the children at my school. It would be inspirational for them to see someone who has accomplished so much in their career. Thank you.
erica, thanks for the question. if feel like being african american in a predominantly white sport offers me a unique opportunity to make a difference in not only the sport, but people's lives. i think that hopefully i can bring fans into the game that may have never been exposed to it if there wasn't an african american for them to look up to. that drives me to work even harder, and i enjoy it. good luck to the kids you teach Hey James! first of all
- I just wanted to tell you that i'm a huge fan of yours... sivan, thanks for being a fan. as for your motivation, i wouldn't draw motivation from being the best in the world, or even a professional. i would just try to improve as much as you can. that was always the motivation for me, i just wanted to get better and better. i still do, so i hope this helps you to stay motivated. James, gina, thanks for the note. i felt that while i was at harvard it was easier to balance my schedule. i realized that i only had certain amounts of time for everything i wanted to do, so i worked as hard as i could for that time and i think that helped my concentration. it was just a matter of time management. Dear JB: andrea, thanks for the support in d.c. as for how i managed at school, i felt like it made it easier having all those things to do. it made it easy for me to focus because i realized i was always up against the clock. i would just make sure to give 100% while i was on the tennis court or in the weight room. then when i was studying, i just mad sure to use my time as wisely as possible. then i would make sure to put all that aside when it was time to just have some fun with my friends. so i truly enjoyed my time and just felt like it was normal to have all of that stuff to do. good luck with whatever school you choose. Hi James. This is Teresa, I also talked to you on your brother's cell phone in Houston along with Kristin. I just have to say that you and Thomas really are two of the most down to earth and genuinely nice guys on the tour. But anyways, I just have to ask if you've ever been burned out and if so, what did you do to get yourself motivated again? Thanks! teresa, i have been known to get a little bit burned out, it's usually more from the travel than the tennis. all i do usually is take a few days off, maybe play some golf and just get my mind off of tennis. then when it's time to get back to practicing, i am actually truly excited about being on the court. i haven't run into a point yet where i didn't want to get back on the court. i hope i never do. --------------------------------------- Hey my family housed ur
brother last year at a pro tournament where i live. then i met you at
the davis cup tie against india, i was there with the usta. i was gonna
ask you a question about taking time off. i am home-schooled for tennis
and i work very hard but sometimes i am unmotivated to play usually
i snap out of it in a week or two but do you think this is a start of
me burning out? becasue i love the game and my goal to to make it to
the main keri, i think this is a very important question. you obviously have some talent since you are already being helped out by the usta. i never had so much tennis in my junior career as most national players. all i did was play after school most days. but nowadays i work extremely hard and i did in college as well. so there are times that i get tired of playing, especially when there are extended periods of non competition. the best thing i find to do is just take a few days off. just get away from tennis for a little while. don't try to force yourself onto the court and go through the motions if you're not really into it. i think this is actually detrimental because you develop bad habits in those types of practices. when i take a little bit of time off, i make sure i don't get back onto the court until i am actually excited to play. my coach actually forces me to do this at times. he thinks i play too much sometimes and makes me take a break. these times make my time on the court more valuable i think. especially since you're so young, a few days off the court really won't make any difference in the big picture, but being happy all the time on the court is a good habit to form. i hope this helps and good luck to you keri. James, I did have a problem controlling my emotions when I was younger. What I did to change it is just have a little more fun on the court. I also put everything into perspective. It will always remain just a game. I will work as hard as possible to get better at it, and try as hard as I can for every match, but at the end of the day, it helps to realize that it's just a game. So if he can think of that, it may help his attitude, and then when his attitude is a little bit more relaxed, I think he will play much better. Dear James: I read your article in the Ocean Drive Magazine, while my friend was getting her hair cut. I also play tennis and am hoping to go pro during or after college. Can you please tell me when you started working on your national ranking and when did you get nationally ranked! thanx Jourdan jourdan, i first was nationally ranked in the 14 and unders. but at that time i think i was ranked 125 in the country. i was always just barely making nationals until my second year of the 16's. that year, i finished the year ranked number 25 and then kept improving to the point that my last year in juniors i was ranked number 1. good luck to you. Hey JB, marlee, that's great that we've got something in common. as for whether my race every holds me back, i like to look at is as an opportunity. i feel that i have the opportunity to bring an entire group of people into the world of tennis that might not have been fans before. i also always try to be a positive role model for all those who might feel that they have something in common with me. good luck to you. Hi James, Inga, 23 y/old inga, there are trainers at every tournament on the tour as well as massage therapists. so i don't feel the need to travel with my own physical therapist although a few of the players do. i have a physical trainer that i work with while i'm at home and he will travel with me to certain tournaments next year. as for how to get involved in this profession, i would advise contacting the atp tour and the wta tour about possible job availability. good luck to you. Hi James!! Well you become
more and more famous since a while and everybody is talking to/about
you through the tournaments (like to think it's not only physically...)
and I was just wondering if you deeply think an authentic and true person
can remain the same even thrown into fame and pressure? Wish you all
the best for the next stages of your life and endlessly send you positive
waves... audrey, i definitely think it is possible to remain true to yourself no matter what life brings you, whether it be fame and fortune, or tradedy. these events and material things that change your life merely test how much you really are the person you grew up as and how well you learned your lessons from your parents. i think there are a few great examples of people who don't change on tour. patrick rafter, carlos moya, and todd martin are 3 people that are genuine people no matter what comes there way. i think a quote by lou holtz (a popular football coach- ed.) sums up my feeling on this situation. "life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you react to it". Hi James! I think the key to getting power most of the time is having your legs in position, shifting your weight properly and then hitting the ball cleanly. The main thing that accomplishes this is being in the proper position early. One of the best examples of this is Andre Agassi. He prepares so well that he can really hurt his opponent from any position.
Dear James, Worried mother worried mother, this sounds very familiar to the situation i was in. it sounds like your daughter just needs time to grow and constant reminders that having fun is what tennis is all about. it helped me at that age to have my coach teach me that at 12 years old, i really can't be worried about every single match like it's the finals of the u.s. open. i think it's great that she has that kind of competitive spirit, but it just needs to be harnessed. part of that is just growing up and maturity. i had my coach and parents constantly reminding me that it was for my own good to act right. as i began to act the right way on the court, and be a good sport, it became more of a habit and it was amazing how much more i began to enjoy the sport. that's not to say that i don't still have that competitive spirit and get very disappointed when i lose, but i just find a more constructive way of venting, like running, than throwing my racket or breaking things. i wish your daughter good luck.
It's a question that I think many people want to know....are you single? What are your goals for 2002? Michelle, 23, East Providence, RI michelle, okay, simple answer to the first part, yes i am single. now onto the harder question, my goals for this year. i really don't set numerical goals. i don't think it's fair to feel like i've accomplished something or failed just based on a number. i just want to know that i've worked as hard as possible and that i'm improving. Hi James, The best tennis match I have ever watched may have been when Mats Wilander defeated Ivan Lendl in the US open final to become number 1 in the world. It was a match with so much pressure involved, and Mats was still able to totally keep his emotions in check and play almost flawless tennis. The biggest misconception about me might be that I'm spontaneous and kind of carefree. I think this is because of my hair, but actually I'm pretty logical and try to analyze many different situations. My favorite music album of all time is probably "The Marshall Mathers LP" by Eminem. I truly think this album is genius. Also to come back with something that impressive after such an uproar was made about him after his first album is amazing. Many artists have trouble making a second album that can compare to the first, but I feel like his outdid his first offering. I recently talked to you
at the ATP tennis tournament in Cincinnati. My boyfriend was wearing
a John Mayer concert shirt and you asked him if he went to that show.
We both said yes and that it was awesome. You said that John was a good
friend of yours. I was wondering if you like his music and if so what
is your favorite song of his. I think he writes fantastic lyrics and
he is a unique musician. I just thought it would be interesting to hear
what you thought of him. Thank you for taking the time to sign autographs
and take pictures with your fans. Your kindness is much appreciated.
I stayed to watch you play on Thursday night. I think you played great.
Thanks again. james, i have read a few articles about you and no matter what the subject whether it's about your personal life or tennis they all seem to incorporate you intelligence. what gather is that you are a very bright person and i just wanted to know if you were the valedictorian or in the top of your class of your highschool? and if so how did school and tennis hinder your social life? were there parties and girls that you missed out on? and did you ever think about giving up tennis to have a normal teenage existence? jordan, 18 I was not the valedictorian of my class in high school. I was pretty high in the class rank I think, but I really don't remember too well. Tennis and academics did require me to make a few sacrifices when I was younger, but I always attempted to keep it in perspective and remain as normal as possible. I still went to some of the parties and my prom in high school. So I actually regard myself as having a pretty normal childhood, especially compared to most of the players on tour that I have met. So I am thankful for that, and I am also thankful I did sacrifice the things I did because it makes my appreciation for what I have accomplished that much greater. I am a big fan of John Mayer's music. I actually went to high school with him and we're pretty good friends. My favorite song of his is probably 3 x 5's. I think it's number 8 on "Room for Squares". Thanks for watching me play in cincy. hello james, I'm not sure what I would do differently in my life. Probably the biggest thing that I have learned with all of the experiences that I've had is that I should never have lacked the confidence that I have now. I was pretty shy my first few years in high school because I was so small and wore a back brace. But I think now I've realized that people will like you based on the person you are as long as you are always just being kind and being yourself. But there really aren't many decisions that I have made that I regret, obviously things have gone wrong at times in my life, but each decision I make I truly believe it's the best thing for me at that time. I think that's the best way to have no regrets. Hi, I enjoyed watching
you play at the US Open. I was curious as to what the bracelet you wear
on your left arm means, if it is not too personal. Also, I read an article
about you and it said you loved to read and you were reading The Diary
of Anne Frank..I loved that book, have you read anything since then?
It is very nice of you to answer fan questions. Thank you. The bracelet on my left wrist was given to me by a fan. She made one for me last year in Connecticut when I was there for TeamTennis. Unfortunately that one fell off my wrist. But then I saw her this year and she had made me another one. I really appreciated this because it seemed very sincere and it also took a lot of effort to make it. So I will wear this one for as long as I can until it falls off and when I look at it, it really makes me feel good to remember that somewhere out there I have some fans that are always on my side. I did enjoy "The Diary of Anne Frank" and since then I've read quite a few books. Most recently I read Mitch Albom's "The Five People you Meet when you get to Heaven" and also Al Franken's "Lies and the Lying Liars who tell them". Both of those were excellent books, and the next one I plan to read is "The Peaceful Warrior" which I have heard is an excellent book that really helps your perspective. Hi There!
The sport of tennis, and
the way you play it, embodies power, grace, expression, and potential.
It's evident that you enjoy your opporunties to play and thrive. The
animals that are raised and killed for furs are denied all of those
experiences: wild foxes bred and The facts really are so graphic and sad. Would you consider not modelling furs in the future? Everyone who takes a stand makes a difference in helping to reduce demand for these products. That these animals are raised and killed for such frivolity as a fancy jacket is especially saddening. I don't know a lot about
these websites, but here are a couple of links, where you could learn
more: Fund for Animals: http://www.fund.org/Home/ PETA: http://www.furisdead.com/
(Peta is pretty extreme, but i'm sure some of the Thanks for your time. I'd
be so interested to hear any comments you might have. Amey, thank you for your considerate email, and after reading it and thinking about it, you are right. I will not model fur again. While I was doing it, I really didn't think about it. I was more thinking about the fact that it was so hot in Miami where we did it and I couldn't stop sweating because the jacket was so heavy. I am also an animal lover, I grew up a vegetarian and tried not to use animal products whenever possible. As I grew older, I was given so much literature by other extreme animal lovers. I was never this extreme, but after reading a lot of what they had to say, I realized unfortunately, that it is very difficult to go through life without using numerous animal products. In fact, they are used in everything from the production of magazines to helping your car run. So since then I haven't made as concerted an effort to refrain from all use of animal products because some are necessary, but I agree with you that the fur coat that I had on was totally unnecessary and to think about the treatment that those animals go through saddens me as well. So to you and all other animal lovers I apologize for this error in judgment. Thanks again for speaking up. Hi James, That's a good question and I've thought about it before. I'm not so sure what the answer would be. I always loved baseball, and think that would be a lot of fun getting to know all the players on your team and having so much time to hang out with them on the bench and in the locker room. The only drawback is that they have to play 162 games a year and then possibly the playoffs, it just seems so grueling. The other possibility would be golf. I am terrible at golf, but it is so much fun to play that I couldn't imagine doing it for a living. Also, they only have to work on the weekends and can pick there own schedule like tennis players. I am also envious that about 90 percent of their tournaments are in the states, making travel much easier. Mr. James Blake Hey, living in NY I know it isn't easy keeping up with tennis. The weather isn't so accomodating and of course not all of us can afford the usta indoor court prices. I know you hear this a lot, but you have a great forehand. And kudos on the hair. My question for you, though a bit different from the others, is how do you feel about our president's political decisions? are you a republican or democrat? What are your thoughts on the fact that civilization as we know it, started in Africa? Also, would you ever dye your hair aqua blue like slideshow bob? Halloween's coming soon.... I know it's not tennis related, but I'm just curious. Best of luck Mr. Blake, you were my choice at this year's US Open. Too bad though, Federer's got game but I still think you can take him. I'm glad there're still some gracious players out there. Cordially,
As for our president's decisions, I don't necessarily agree with them, but I feel like the only thing to do is support the country and hope we have a better leader soon. I am a democrat. I really haven't publicly taken any sort of stand on serious political issues. I find it somewhat difficult to do since I realize the influence I may have on so many fans as well as the time that really should be given to research the issues is something that I don't readily have available to me right now. As for civilization beginning in Africa, I a proud of that and wish more people were aware of it. Dear James, lucie, i don't know if i could be an actor. the most i've done is be in a commercial. i think i'd leave that to the professionals. i guess the best role for me would just to be myself, that would be the only one i'm prepared to play. i think it would be fun to try for a while, but i really don't have the confidence that i would be that good at it. Were you in Las Vegas Saturday
night on the 13th at the MGM Grand after the De La Hoya fight? It sure
looked like you. If not, he would win a look a like contest. Sorry, I haven't been in Vegas in about 4 years. Whats up James? How long did it take you to grow your hair? Corey Bente corey, it took about a year and a half for my hair to get to this length. i've actually had it for longer than that now, but that's because i've had it trimmed a few times to keep it a little healthier and just because it was getting too long and hot hey jb, what's going on? sorry about your loss at the aussie open. i was cheering and rooting for you to win...ah well, there's always next time....besides that, the year has just begun and i'm sure you'll do even better in the coming months. at least you weren't freezing your buns off like we're doing in nyc. :) i'm dying for warmer weather! next weekend i'll be going to what would've been your alma mater--harvard. the black student union is holding their annual conference so i thought i would check that out and visit a buddy who's in the business school. hopefully i'll be motivated by some of the lectures to be more enterprising.do you still keep in contact with any friends from school? so now that you have some time off before your next gig, what are you doing besides practice, practice, practice? just out of curiosity...do you find it difficult to enjoy yourself in public? are people constantly interrupting your dinner or whatever to ask for autographs or to chat? i read somewhere that you're an avid reader (i guess you'd have to be if you spend so much time on a plane.) i love reading too. what are you reading now? i'm reading the first book of the lord of the rings. btw--the second rings movie was awesome, so if you haven't checked it out, you really should. one of my favorite books is the alchemist...it's a quick read...so if you get a chance you should check that out too. ok...i'm done making recommendations for now. :) enjoy your time off! lisa lisa, i do keep in touch with plenty of my friends from harvard. i met some of my best friends in the world there. i see a lot of them when i travel around the country because they are now all spread out across the country. as for what i'm reading now, i just finished the book "assata", it's an autobiography of assata shakur and it is excellent. in fact, it was recommended to me by the webmaster of this site. i have read the alchemist, and it is a very entertaining book. Dear James, Thanks a lot!!! amy, i look for contentment in a woman and happiness. i think a woman that is happy with who they are and can just be themselves is one of the most important things to me. my ideal woman is someone who has this quality and also is a caring, intelligent individual. i have no idea when i will settle down and have a family. i think i've still got quite a few years before i think about that. hey whats up james im devin im 16 im from Connecticut....u may know me cause my mom and your mom are good friends cause my my mom and I play tennis at tennis club of trum..ur moms the nicest...ur my idol man i look up to u so much,and wanna be like u...i jus wanted to know when ud be commin back to CT,and be around the club?let me know if u can..thanks and best of luck to u bro devin, i'm glad you play at trumbull, i have lots of fond memories of that place. i will be back in connecticut around thanksgiving and again around christmas. i really don't know when or if i'll be in the club at all. my days are becoming extremely busy and when i come home to connecticut these days it's usually just to see my family and not so much to train. i do the bulk of my training down in tampa now. but good luck to you at the club and always be nice to my mom. James, Thanks, Amy amy, sorry about your drink. as for my hair though, i don't do anything to it. i just stopped brushing or combing my hair. it started to just clump together on its own and the ends turned lighter from the sun. My brother and I have an argument going as to wether or not you grew p in CT. or NY. can you solve this for us so I can lay this thing to bed?. good luck with the interview with Ramos! -- joe, i guess you could say you were both right. i was born in new york and lived there until i was 6 years old. but then i moved to fairfield, connecticut and lived there until i turned professional and moved to tampa. if you asked me, i would probably consider fairfield where i grew up since i have most of my memories there. hey blake, secondly, do you get tired of answering the same questions over and over again, you know like, do you have a girlfriend, yet? lol la8er meme, the idea of starting a website was kind of in the back of my mind when cg (the webmaster of this site) talked to me about possibly heading up the project. since then he's done a great job and managed to create a great site to help all my fans keep in touch with me while i'm travelling all over the world. as far as answering the same questions, i don't mind it at all. i just find some time when i get a chance to relax and that's when i read all the fanmail and questions. Hello James!I come from
Poland,and has been a great fan of tennis for about 10 years.I always
liked Afro-American tennis and appreciated Artur Ashe and MaliVai Washington.Now
I'm your fan(discovered you during Cincinnati 2001 after memorable encounter
with Pat Rafter) but have no opportunity to see your match live.Have
you considered coming to Poland for a tournament?There's a well organised
ATP event in Sopot in summer every year,and in September in my home
city-Szczecin it's the best challenger in the world with the hottest
crowd(Szczecin is called small Roland Garros). kris, i don't plan on playing in poland next year. my schedule is pretty packed and that tournament in sopot just doesn't fit into it. i'm sorry, but i'm sure at some point in my career i'll play there. and yes, i am a christian. I have two questions. First, I think you've said before that you were planning on going back to college later on. I was just wondering what you want to major in? My second question is about how you always look so self-confident and outgoing on and off the court. I am a quiet and shy person and it really interferes with doing what I need and want to do. People say I have alot of talent (I play the piano, and I like to play tennis) but I find it so difficult to express my talent toothers. Have you ever dealt with this and how do you stay so self-confident? I hope you can answer my questions. Thanks =) your fan always, jen b., i am planning
on going back to college when i'm done with tennis. i was majoring in
economics before i left school, but i think i will change when i go
back. i'm much more interested in sociology and african-american studies.
so i'll most likely major in one of those. as for my self confidence,
it's something that has been learned. like you, i am a pretty shy and
quiet person normally. when i was young, really the only place i was
outgoing was on the tennis court. the reason for that is because i have
Hey James, I just wanted
to say that I think you are a great role model. I am a huge fan of yours
and you show so much character when you play. I have played college
tennis and now I just play tennis sometimes with some friends and you
inspire me to be better at the game and to keep my head up and on straight.
I look up to you and I wish you so much luck. I hope you achieve everything
you have ever wanted to achieve...you deserve it. suzanne, i'm glad you are still a tennis player, it's a wonderful sport that can be played for life. my greatest accomplishment on the court was my first win in davis cup. i'm also extremely proud of my win over andre agassi. as for off the court, my greatest accomplishment is being someone that kids can say "i want to be like him" and have the parents be proud of that. every time i hear about that, it makes my day and makes me proud that i was raised the way i was and thankful for the job my parents did. Hey James, I'm a huge
fan, I was wondering who were some of your role models when you were
growing up. lyssa, some of my role models when i was growing up were arthur ashe, michael jordan, jim courier, and stefan edberg. i looked up to arthur ashe for how he conducted himself with class under such extremely difficult situations. he managed to use his fame and fortune for the good of others instead of being selfish as many professional athletes are. michael jordan was my favorite player because of his desire to win. he would do absolutely anything to win and i admired that. jim courier had the most incredible work ethic on tour, he knew he worked harder than anyone else on tour. and stefan edberg was just a graceful player and had such great sportsmanship that i enjoyed watching him. Hey James, Sarah, sarah, my best memory of this year on tour was beating andre agassi and winning the legg mason tournament. it was so special to me because my parents were there as well as some of my best friends from childhood. it was such a thrill to beat an idol of mine and win a tournament in my third final of the year. my favorite female tennis player right now is probably monica seles. after realizing all that she has been through, i admire the fact that she is able to get out on the court at all and is very inspiring. but through all that, i also appreciate that she is very genuine and an all around nice person. my goal for this next year is just to keep improving. that's my goal every year. i felt great last year to play doubles with todd martin. he has helped me more than any other player on tour with my game and helping me to mature as well. Hello Mr. Blake! I have become a huge fan recently after your awesome win over Andre just prior to the amazing play at the US Open. You really seem to be on fire these days! My question is more about off the court preparation. I am a health psychologist and dabble in sports performance improvement. Can you share any hints about how you are preparing mentally for your matches and to get to the level of the Top Ten players? Also, how did attending Harvard help prepare you for tennis and life? Thank you and much luck in your rise to the top! Kimeron, 41 kimeron, i wish i could share a secret on how to get to the top ten because i'm not quite there yet. but as for what i do to prepare for matches, i make sure to have everything prepared early so i'm never rushed. then i go through a little routine right before the match that includes about 10 minutes of being alone and just totally focusing on the task at hand and blocking out everything else. harvard prepared me for life very well i believe. i think the two years i spent there were crucial in my maturation process. when i went there, i was just a kid that had no idea about life and the world outside of my little cocoon. i learned so much outside of the classroom just with all of the people i interacted with. that was the most amazing thing about the school, the incredible people that attend the school. it gave me a new perspective on the world. Dear Mr. Blake, P.S. Do you have any pets? I have a cat and a hamster. How do you get your hair to do that thing? taylor, i hope you enjoy connecticut, i loved it there. i don't have any pets right now because i wouldn't be able to take care of them since i'm on the road so much. i had a cat when i was growing up. i don't do anything to my hair, it just goes like this naturally, kind of weird, huh? good luck with everything. Hey James Blake! My name is Kristin. I was never much of a tennis fan until one day I was watching tv and saw you. I of course stopped changing channels and watched the entire match! You're beautiful and you seem very down to earth. I absolutely LOVE your hair. I was wondering if you like swimming or going to the beach, and if you know any Swahili or have any quirks. Thanks! Kristin, 19, South Pasadena,
CA kristin, thanks for watching and i hope you are now a tennis fan. i do like going to the beach, but i'm not really a great swimmer, so i don't do that too often. i don't know any swahili, and i've probably got a few quirks on the court. i guess i just have some superstitions, but they change every week. every time something is going well, i just have to keep doing the same things. Hey James, l'oreal, applauding your opponent is something that i learned when i was very young. i was not always a gracious loser, but my mom pointed out that sometimes all you can do is applaud a good shot by your opponent. as far as building up their confidence, if they are hitting winners, then i'm guessing there confidence is already pretty high. i don't want to discount what your coach says, but it seems like that philosophy is very unsportsmanlike and won't make you a whole lot of friends. hey james, just wondering about your reflections on "the harvard experience," how it's vibed with you damaris wortes damaris, i had a great
time at harvard. it was an amazing experience and am so thankful that
i got that opportunity. i met some of my best friends in the world there
and really matured in the two years i spent there. it wasn't necessarily
the experiences i had in the classroom as much as the ones i had with
my friends, teammates, coaches, and professors outside of class that
Greetings James, Are you in any way affiliated with the rastafarian culture/community? Moe. 23. Baltimore moe, i am not involved with the rastafarian culture. i really don't know a whole lot about the culture, but am interested in learning about all cultures. Hey James I live in Fairfield
and play on the Fairfield High tennis team. My brother played with you
once at the Tennis Club of Trumbull (you probably don't remember). I
wanted to know what was your most memorable moment in your high school
career and did u ever loose? You should come back more often to visit
GO MUSTANGS!!!! jason, i definitely lost in high school. i didn't lose my junior or senior years, but i lost at least 2 or 3 times my freshman year. and then i lost in the finals of the state tournament in my sophomore year. my most memorable moment in high school tennis actually came in my freshman year. we beat fairfield prep, who had one of the best teams in the state and were our rivals. they were heavily favored and we beat them at prep. my brother was still on the team at that time and we both won our matches against friends of ours that actually trained at the same club as us. so that was a lot of fun for me and for our coach. Hey James! kristen, if i had to think
of the one thing i crave most in life, i guess it would be friendship.
i truly enjoy having some of the most wonderful friends in the world.
those people that have been with me while i was in high school, college
and before the pro tour that like me for the person that i am are so
important to me. that just makes me feel good about myself that i wish
i could spend more time with them. as far as regrets since i've turned
pro, i really don't have any. that has been my goal on tour is to do
Dear James, audrey, tennis brings
me many things in my life right now. it is basically my dream job. i
have always loved to play tennis and am extremely competitive, so to
be able to do this for my job seems too good to be true. as for the
sacrifices that i make, it makes it all the more valuable and to know
what i've sacrificed makes me appreciate how lucky i am. i do still
manage to see my family and friends quite a bit though. my parents come
to at least 5 tournaments per year and i see them for thanksgiving and
christmas every year. i live with my brother, so i see him all the time.
as for my friends, i have made some of my best friends on tour and i
still make time to see my friends from high school and college. as for
my goals apart from tennis, i would like to use whatever talents i have
to make a difference positively in this world. that's what i have hoped
for since i was little. hey my names Emily i just wanted to know
when you really got interested in tennis. I also know your friend from
Saddlebrook Lindsay. Emily Morrow, Rome,GA emily, i was interested in tennis from a very young age. my parents would take me to the park with them while they were playing and i would be bored, so i just picked up a racket and joined them. so i was playing since i could walk, but then i played all sports as a kid. i really got into tennis when i was about 12. that's when i started taking lessons and playing a little bit more often. at about age 14 was when i quit playing other sports and concentrating totally on tennis. Hi James! Congratulations on all your
success so far, James, and good luck with 2003. Thanks a lot, Harpal Sandhu harpal, my favorite course at harvard was sociology. it was just an introductory level course, but it was a whole lot of fun. my final paper actually related to the tennis tour as well. i compared and contrasted the relationships of the men's players on tour compared to the women's players. ...ho iniziato a giocare
a tennis quando ero piccola, poi purtroppo ho smesso a causa di un lutto
in famiglia che mi ha stroncato. Un giorno
Fabiana, 18, Rimini, Italia fabiana, thanks for your note. i couldn't understand it, but luckily the webmaster speaks italian and translated it for me. i have a very diverse music selection that i listen to. i listen to a lot of rap and r&b. that's mostly what i listen to before matches is rap and maybe some hard rock. other times when i'm relaxing, i love older artists like stevie wonder and marvin gaye. i also enjoy dave matthews band, john mayer and softer rock like that. Hi! eun, i have never visited korea, but thanks for watching, even if it's not popular there. i have played a korean player, hyung-taik lee before. i hope he can make it more popular there. Hi, James, Saw you in the NCAAs here in Athens, Ga., a few years back. Why did you decide to attend college? What do you think has helped you become more successful than some of your college peers? Thanks! anisha, i decided to attend college because i wasn't sure that i had the ability to be a successful tennis player. i wanted to work very hard at my tennis, but at the same time put myself into the best possible position for later in life. i felt that harvard was the best fit for me in this aspect. as for what has set me apart from the rest of my college peers, i think it has been partly just my work ethic with a little bit of good luck. i've been fortunate to not have any serious injuries while i've been on tour and i have kept a positive attitude. there are a few of my college peers that have been doing well lately as well. jeff morrison and brian vahaly have been moving up in the rankings lately. Hi James, claudia, i'm not sure what i would be doing if i wasn't playing tennis right now. i think i would have finished my degree at harvard, and then i would like to have stayed in the sports world. i think a career of some sort in sports marketing would be my dream job. i also thought about going to business school as well. Hey, JB. I read that you
train in Tampa, and I was just wondering what are some of your favorite
things to do around there when you're not practicing. trasie, when i'm not training in tampa, some of the things that i like to do are play golf at saddlebrook when i get a chance. since i'm not home that much, i also really love just spending time with my friends just barbecuing out by the pool. i'm pretty much a sports nut, so i also like playing basketball and beach volleyball. --------------------------------------- Hi, robert, i grew up on st. andrew's place. my family and i would play most of the time on the courts at fay park. we would also go over to the harlem junior tennis program at the 369th armory. my parents have probably played at those other courts though, they've played just about everywhere. Were you suprised that youre doing better than your brother since you are younger? Blake Underwood blake, i am a little surprised that i'm doing better than my brother right now. he always used to beat me when we were kids because he was bigger, stronger, smarter, and faster than me. but unfortunately he's had a lot of trouble with injuries. i think he's got a lot of talent, and also he's still got that mental edge on my because i still look up to him as my big brother, but it will just be a matter of his confidence. James, This Marcus Lehman, a classmate from HU. I've been watching you since you left sophomore year, and I'm really amazed at what you have accomplished. When I came back to Gainesville, FL, even Charles, the guy who runs EZ Tennis was telling me about a great upcoming player who'd passed by here. Of course, he was talking about you. It's really great to see you thriving on the tour, making the transition that many have not. Having known you before your tennis skills flourished, I must say that your character is as admirable as your abilities. Are you planning on returning
to school after tennis? Marcus marcus, it's good to hear from you since harvard. i'm glad you're having fun in gainesville, that place is great. i was there last year for a buddy of mine's concert. as for if i plan to go back to school, i'd like to. i really don't know where my life will be when i retire. i might already have another job set up, or possibly a family. so there could be other factors involved, but i would like to go back to harvard and finish my last two years. unfortunately the grille and the bow are already gone, but i'll just have to go back and be the old guy that hangs out at the a.d. good luck in gainesville. My dad is convinced that
you are the perfect boyfriend for me. To tell you the truth, I didn't
even know who you were until he told me about you. A new fan, kida, i'm not sure what your dad sees in me as your perfect boyfriend, but you never know. i don't go back to fairfield too much. usually about 3 or 4 times per year. i really don't think success has changed me too much, my friends wouldn't let that happen. both my tennis friends, and my friends from back home and school are very good at keeping me humble. the only thing that has changed is my confidence on the court i think. my most embarrassing moment would probably have to be throwing up in front of at least 10,000 people last year at the u.s. open. the nicest compliment i can ever receive is when a kid tells me he wants to grow up to be like me, or a parent tells me that my parents did a good job raising me and they should be proud of me. those are heartfelt and always make my day. James, Welcome to the tennis world. Where do you see yourself five years from now? Hank Becker hank, i have no idea where i'll be in five years. all i know is that i'll be working hard on improving in whatever life has brought in front of me. the rest i feel is out of my control. i hope i'm still playing top level tennis and if that's the case, i'll be working as hard as ever to continue to improve. but i am someone who has stopped making goals like that for five years in advance. i try to improve every day and i find that five years later then falls into place after all those days of trying to improve. Dear James, petra, that is a very good question. if i could be one person in this world for one day, i think it might be eminem. i think i would learn a lot, and it would be a roller coaster of emotions. he can go on tour, sell out a stadium and anything he does on stage can raise 40,000 people to their feet. then he's got protestors outside who absolutely hate his guts even though they've never met him or spoken to him. then he's got his whole personal situation with a daughter and a wife that i've never experienced and think the whole day would be crazy and it would be very interesting to see that lifestyle. hey quick question James
... What is your take on the attention that your physical appearence
brings do you believe that the fact that you are a handsome man will
distract people from the talent that you possese? Also my second question
involves your hair have you ever gotten any negative press about such
an ethnic style? Lastly what did your family think about you quiting
harvard personally my fam would have been less than thrilled?Anyway
on your website they tell everyone quite rudely that they won't respond
to e-mail personally. But honestly I think you would make an exception
forme since afterall I"m asking some thoughful questions and not
just OhmygodIthinkyour so hottt! lol line fly, i take the attention to my physical appearance as a joke pretty much, i never take them too seriously. i actually hope that any attention paid to my looks will then alert people to the talent that i possess on the court. i have never received any negative press that i know of about my hair. i hope people like it, but if they don't, it's not going to make me change it. i decided i wanted to do something different while i'm young and this is what i decided on, so i'll keep it as long as i feel like i enjoy it and it doesn't get too hot in the summer. my family at first was not behind me to leave harvard. they always stressed academics first in my house, that's why i went to harvard in the first place. but as they realized that i would be following my dream and that i could only do this for a limited amount of time and i can go back to harvard at any time, they got behind me and supported me completely. i thank them so much for that. Hey James -- I heard recently
that you were brought up as a vegetarian. Very cool. I'm 34 and have
been some version of vegetarian -- from hard-core vegan to occasional
fish-eater -- since I was 18. I just wanted to see if you are still
vegetarian? Do you eat fish/seafood? I saw where you listed "barbecuing
with friends out by the pool" as a favorite leisure activity, so
I hope you're barbecuing tempeh burgers and tofu pups. ;-) I've followed
pro tennis very closely for a long time and you're the first male player
I've ever heard of that was vegetarian (I know Martina Navratilova and
Billie Jean King have become vegetarian in recent years...). brad, i grew up as a total
vegetarian. i only ate eggs. now i have begun to eat white meat. so
i eat seafood, turkey and chicken. i did this when i went to college.
i was just so tired of eating the dining hall food that was the same
every time and i needed some sort of variety. as for how i feel about
it, i feel it's a personal decision. it was a decision my parents made
and they continue to stick to it. they are both extremely healthy and
happy, so it works for them. as for the philosophical reasons and for
the effect of Hi James! I want you to know
that you are my favorite tennis player and I truly look up to you. My
sister Heather and my aunt went to see Scott Thomas, 13 My favorite opponent to play against is probably Todd Martin. He is a player that really makes you think because he will change his game if he needs to. He also hits the ball very cleanly and can give you a great rhythm. It also helps that he is a really good friend of mine and we both know there will be no hard feelings in the locker room, no matter what happens on the court. My least favorite opponent is probably Andy Roddick, and I think this answers your last question as well because I think his serve is the hardest to return. It is very frustrating to play him because his serve is so big that it puts pressure on every one of your service games due to the fact that you know it is so difficult to break him. And even if you are up 0-40 on his serve, you know it is very possible for him to reel off 5 straight service winners and there's not much you can do about it. I have never beaten him on tour, and that's why he's my least favorite opponent. Hi James, Are you coming back to Hartford for Fox Force next year (2004)? Good luck! Barbara Barbara, I may come back to the FoxForce next year. I would like to, but I really don't know what my schedule will be for next year, or if they will want me to come back again. But I hope they do. Hey James! -Cindy, 15, California cindy, i have thought very seriously about playing for the united states in the olympics next year. it would be an amazing honor to represent my country in the olympics. that would be a once in a lifetime experience, and i will do everything possible to make it a reality. James, mc.roy, playing with lots of people watching is great. it makes it more exciting for me because you know something special can happen then and hopefully those people will remember the performance. i don't get nervous because i know i've been practicing all my life to play tennis, so it's no big deal to get out there and do what i know i can do. Hi James, phuong, my family is very important to me. the support that they give me is unconditional and that means a lot to me. it is always more exciting to win matches when i have them in the stands. my brother especially is amazing to sit through those matches so often. i get so nervous when i watch him, but he looks relaxed all the time he's watching me, i'm not sure how he does it. as for signing autographs, i try to sign plenty because i want to give the fans their money's worth and make the experience at the tennis that much better, so they will continue to be tennis fans and watch more of my matches. i really appreciate all of the fans, they make the matches more fun for me, so i try to make it more fun for them. James congraulations to you and Serena on your win in the Hopman Cup. James as a fan of yours,
it bothers me when I hear announcers say your too nice and need to be
a little meaner. It seems as though America is always looking for the
perfect champion. Someone who a winner, good-looking, a little cocky
or confident, and a political activist. A perfect example of this is
Muhammad Ali, and Arthur Ashe. Many athletes are just that athletes.
Many fall short of having all these attributes. I'm a fan of tennis,
and I found it really rude that many writers referred to Pete Sampras
has having a boring personality. It just not enough these days to be
considered a good athlete. I know image is very important to you. Do
you hate being reffered to as too nice or not having enough killer instinct.
Thanks!!!!!, You fan Danielle... danielle, i understand your frustration. it is annoying to hear commentators make judgments on players that they really don't know anything about. i feel that i am just being myself in being a good person off the court. when i am on the court, i am as competitive as anyone else. in fact, i am one of the most competitive people in the world i think. but i don't think being mean or getting angry will be productive to making me a better player, so i don't do it. Hi James, ruth, thomas and i will continue to play doubles together when we have the opportunity. it's difficult because we both mainly want to concentrate on our singles. unfortunately right now our rankings are too far apart to play in the same tournaments together. but when we have the chance we play together. we played at newport, and we're planning on trying to play at the u.s. open. ----------------------------------------- janet, i think the williams
sisters success is great. i think they've added a whole new demographic
of fan that might not have been there 5 years ago, and that's what i
hope to do on the men's side. they give young girls some positive role
models to look up to. as for if it will become boring if they dominate,
i really can't tell. it wasn't boring when chris evert and martina navratilova
dominated, but i think the sisters have the ability to dominate to an
even great level than that. i think it could be exciting if the hi James, jenny, i love being in australia. it's a lot of fun and the people are so friendly. i didn't have a whole lot of time for sightseeing this time, but i did see the opera house and the harbour bridge in sydney. that was a lot of fun and i enjoyed my whole time down under. hi james...wanted 2 ask u something but i can't think..lol...1 thing i wanna no is what is the weirdest reaction u've recieved from a fan? i remember meeting andy roddick at wimbledon...and i acted like total fool. i basically 4got he was human (i kind of wish i didn't act like such a fool!) thanks fozia fozia, don't worry about the way you acted when you saw andy, i'm sure he can handle it. i guess some of the weirdest reactions i've received were when one fan gave me a stuffed animal as a gift with a long letter and then proceeded to break down and cry. in the letter it was detailed that she had gotten the bread i was eating on the court from my match and then ate the rest of it. although i'm still amazed by anyone asking for me to sign a body part. James, have you had any tough Hearts card game competition recently? I've heard you are quite the Hearts master... come out to the west coast some time! Rudy DonVonovich rudy, i do get some free time on the road to play some hearts. it's a lot of fun, and we used to always play on road trips in college. whenever my brother's around on tour with me, we can usually find two more people to get a game going. hey James, brit, i have never played at lloyd's in costa mesa. i don't go out to the west coast very often, but when i do it's usually for a tournament and then i train at the tournament courts. i do know taylor dent and his father. taylor is one of my best friends on tour and i've played him twice in singles this year. Hola, James, what's shakin'? I think you are an awesome player, and it seems as though that you are genuinely one of the nicest guys around. I saw in a recent Tennis magazine that you sometimes reply back to fans through this site, so I took time out from my busy schedule to ask you a question. My question is: If you were to ever play mixed doubles, who would you like to have as your partner? Well, that's all I wanted to know. Good luck for the rest of the year, and thank you for being the person that you are. You are truly an inspiration. -Kayla, age 16 kayla, thanks for taking time out of your schedule to ask a question, so i'll take time out of my schedule to answer it. i will be playing mixed doubles in a few months with serena williams at the hopman cup in australia. i think at this point, this is probably my best mixed doubles partner since she is clearly the best female player in the world right now. so that should be fun. but my ideal doubles partner, and this is going to sound corny, would have to be my mother. i used to play some mother/son tournaments with her when i was young and i think that's a lot more fun than any other mixed doubles i've ever played. Hi James,i am from Rome(the most beautiful city of theworld),and i saw you this year play very well. I ask you on which surface you can progress? and which is your problem with the match at the FIFTH set??
francesca, thanks for watching in rome. i feel that the hard courts in the united states are my best surface. these are the type of courts that i grew up playing on. as for my trouble in the fifth set, i think i've come up against some pretty tough players in the matches i've lost in the fifth set. i don't necessarily feel like i have a problem with them, i've just lost some close matches. that's bound to happen sometimes. it also may have something to do with the fact that this was my first year playing all four grand slams and i am still very inexperienced. Hey James! francesca, the players that i enjoy watching the most now are carlos moya and marat safin. i think carlos moya plays somewhat similar to me and i appreciate how much talent he has as well as being a nice guy in the locker room. as for marat, i just think he is the most talented tennis player in the world right now. he has so much natural ability it's incredible, sometimes it looks like he can do absolutely whatever he wants whenever he decides to. this has changed over the years because the players have changed. growing up, i loved watching jim courier and stefan edberg. How do we know for sure
that this is actually James Blake answering thequestions and not the
owner of the website??? Heidi heidi, this is actually james answering the questions. that's why it takes so long, i'm kind of busy playing tennis when i get a chance. anyway, i feel it's an opportunity for me to be labeled as the "future of american tennis" with andy roddick. that means that i've already done something to gain the respect of the tennis critics. i don't put any extra pressure on me because of that because i know that all i can do is do my best. if that's not good enough, then i don't feel like i need to apologize to anyone, i can only control the way i feel. i don't worry as much about what the media says. and thanks for watching me at wimbledon, i can't believe you guys sleep out on the street like that for tickets. i'm glad it was worth it. if you saw my krajicek match, at least you saw plenty of tennis. James, erin, thanks for the support in cincinnati. if i had a match at 4:00, i'll go through the preparation on a day like that. first, i'd probably get up around 9:00 and eat a pretty big breakfast with eggs, pancakes, plenty of fruit and maybe some cereal. then i'd go over to the courts probably a little bit later and eat a decent lunch around 1:00. i would warm up at about 2:00 for maybe half an hour. then i'd head back to the locker room to shower, stretch and relax a little bit. i'd probably snack on some fruit, bread or a tennis bar just to make sure i have some energy for the match. then about half an hour before the match i'd get stretched out by the trainer, tape my ankles, and get all dressed for the match. then hopefully at 4, i'd go out and get a win. Hi James! Ally 17, Washington DC ally, thanks for all the help at the legg mason tournament. the volunteers are so important to a professional tennis tournament. as for if it bothers me, not really. i've started to get used to the fact that i'm now living my life in some part in the public spotlight. those people paid for a ticket into the venue, so if they want to watch me warm up, that's up to them. personally, i don't think it's extremely exciting, and i will never really pander to pleasing them, i have to concentrate on doing what's necessary to get ready for my match. so if you want to watch me warm up next time, be my guest. see you next year in d.c. James... hi my name is
ele (i am 17) and i just started getting into tennis (mainly watching
because i play volleyball) and you have a special air about yourself.
You are a postive example for all those aspiring players. I wanted to
encourage you to not lose any hope and to keep your head up no matter
how tough the road gets. Also you may be the most hansome person alive
but dont let it get to your head because humility is a great gift. I
am glad that you are single though... and if you ever need anyone just
holla. but on a serious note, what is important in your life besides
tennis?? are you religious?? Is your family close?? What kind of music
do you listen to? You are truly an incredible genuiwine person from
what i hear.. keep up all the good work and live life for all it is
worth.. ele, that's a great name,
i really like it. anyway, thanks for the compliments. as for the questions,
my family is very close with me. i live with my older brother thomas
and i followed him to college. my parents come to watch me play whenever
they get a chance and i see them for the holidays. as for religion,
i am a religious person. i feel that religion is an extremely important
median to teaching morals, and i hope i have learned mine correctly.
i listen to a very large selection of music. just about I read in an interview
with Sampras that the younger guys on the Davis Cup team play ping pong
all night in your underwear. I was wondering who dominates on the ping
pong table and how good are each one of you at ping pong? Thanks and
good luck at the open. I'll be pulling for you. Shane, 20, Gulf Shores, Alabama shane, first of all, that
quote is not exactly true. it was one specific incident at davis cup
in oklahoma city when we had a ping pong table in our players lounge.
it got a little hot in there and one of the young guys only had on his
sweatpants over some boxers. he just got too hot, so he was playing
one game in his boxers. as for how good i am, i think i'm pretty good.
andy has beaten me a few times, but i think with real paddles instead
of the ones we were using at those tournaments, i can take him. and
i James, I wondered if you
were just nervous or were you tired during your recent match against
Tim Henman in Toronto during the Master Series? Being a registered nurse
and one that watches you every chance she gets, you appeared to be sluggish
during the first set. kimberly, i wasn't really tired or nervous when i played tim henman in toronto. that was just a day that i played a poor match. unfortunately it happens to every player, i just didn't feel comfortable with the way i was playing. it was also extremely hot on the court. i would guess it was well over 100 degrees on the court, and i have had problems with the heat in the past, so i may have been trying to conserve energy. thanks for the concern though. Hey whats up James, you probably dont remember me, but i was lucky enough to be a ball boy during two of your matches at the Legg Mason tournament in D.C. this year. I got to ball boy for you when you played against Oleg Ogorodov and Guillermo Coria. I really wish that I could've ball boyed for your match against Agassi because I've never seen a player hit the ball so well and you just had agassi wrapped around your finger, correct me if i'm wrong, but that must of been your best match ever. How did it feel to take out one of tennis' biggest icons? Also, I was in the ceremony after you beat Paradorn Srichaphan, (which was another great match) and you said that you won a couple bets against your Dad and your agent. I know that your Dad shaved his beard that he had for the longest time and you said that your agent was either going to shave his head or ski dive with you. Which one did it end up being and if it was ski diving, will it be your first time and how was it? Thanks for taking the time to read this! -Joe Terpstra, Northern
VA, 15 joe, thanks for being a ballboy for my matches, i hope i was nice to you while i was playing. that match against agassi was definitely the best i've ever played. it was an amazing feeling to control the match the way i did against someone who i've looked up to for so long. as for the bet, my agent is going to go sky diving with me sometime this winter. i've done it before and it was amazing. i think it is such a rush and a great feeling, so i definitely want to do it again. Hey James- I am from Austin,
Minnesota....yes, where spam is made. This first time I saw you was
while you were practicing at the Indian Wells tournament a couple of
years ago when I was about 18. It was a blast watching you! I can definately
tell you really enjoy yourself out on the court. You are very entertaining
to watch. Since you always have a huge fanclub of girls following you
and watching you while you practice, for example in Indian Wells, is
it ever hard to concentrate or focus? And what do you think of the e-mails
and letters you receive from fans who are just crazy about you and tell
you how they are in love with you? Besides responding to these e-mails,
do you ever take the time in your busy schedule to write back? I am very thankful that I have so many fans that want to watch me, even when I am just practicing. I don't get distracted during these practices though. I think those practices are important to be ready to deal with any kind of distraction during a match, so I do my best to prepare for the matches. I think it's pretty funny that so many people write to me and say how much they like me. Most of them don't even really know me that well, or just from my interviews. I really think that's great and also remember how that felt as a fan myself. I have a feeling that most of the girls who write in are pretty young and will come to realize that it's just a little bit of a young crush and they will be over it shortly. So it's very harmless and flattering to me. Hi Mr Blake, I am glad that you are a fan of mine, and that you are a fan of Andre's as well. He is an amazing player and a great person as well. Getting to know him has been a learning experience because he is someone that is a legend and an idol to many. He keeps that in perspective very well and takes the role model moniker seriously. As for the best thing that has happened to me in my life, that's pretty tough to decide. So many wonderful things have happened to me, winning my first davis cup match with my parents there to see, seeing my brother graduate from Harvard, winning my first tournament with my parents there, they were all so wonderful that it is difficult to pick just one. I met you at the Legg Mason
Tennis Classic in DC (your first ATP title).You were a very nice person,
which is good because I wouldn't want to Mike mike, serena is a great person. she's a sweet, caring person. she loves to laugh and just seems to enjoy everything that's going on. then she gets on the court and is totally intense and focused. HI JB! I am a big tennis
fan and a fan of yours. I watch your matches on television when I get
a chance. From articles, interviews, and watching you on television,
I know that you are a genuinely kind, intelligent, and charismatic person
with many attributes. I am also one of the biggest Williams Sisters
fans ever. My question to you would be if you think that there are many
positive people on the ATP tour besides yourself, and if you think that
being on the ATP tour is a positive experience for you-besides the tennis
and the fans. Also, if you met Serena Jameka Williams and Ebony Star
Williams what can you tell me about them. Thank you and good luck! aaron, i feel that the tour is
an extremely positive experience for me. i have met plenty of great
people on tour that i've become friends with and learned a lot from.
the experience for me to travel around, meet new people and see other
cultures while i'm still only 22 years old makes me feel so lucky i
have to pinch myself sometimes. as for serena and venus, i don't know
them too well since we're only together with the women for about 5 weeks
a year. i will be playing the hopman cup next year with serena and she
seems to be a really nice person. My name is James and i am 25 and i think you are extremely talented and i think you have the potential to be top 5 in the world. But i want you to develop a bigger and more accurate serve, you will need it to get to the top. I want you to work with Tony travert or Stan Smith on this project. I wanted to ask you if you would be willing to help alex kim on his game and what you think about his game and how far you think he will go . I hope you continue the great tennis and hope you stay injury free. james, thank you for believing
in me. as for my serve, it is progressing and i feel it's been improving
quite a bit. i worked with stan smith for one summer during my time
in school, but i'm very loyal to my coach brian barker. he has been
one of the main reasons i have accomplished anything in tennis, and
i think he knows my game better than anyone else in the world. as for
alex kim, he's a friend of mine, and it would be a little uncomfortable
for another player to help another player in the aspect you are talking
about. After years of watching professional tennis, envious of the players, I always wonder how you are able to deal with the emotion day to day (from the pressure to win, the media, etc). Do you ever stop and think "how did I get so lucky?" I guess what I'm asking is, how does it feel to live out such a big dream? Is it everything you imagined it to be? Best of luck in everything
you do, amy, i am always amazed that this is my real life. after i hear stories of all my friends just out of college looking for jobs and when they do find them, having to work so many hours and be at the whims of the bosses. it wasn't something that happened overnight, so i never once just said "now i've made it" or anything like that. it has been a very gradual progression for me, and i'm thankful that i continue to improve. now it's just a matter of continuing to work hard even though i'm having the time of my life out here on tour. Hey James! I was wondering
who, on the Tour, are you best friends, close friends, and like family?
I was told Andy Roddick, he's such a sweetie! I hope to see you at Legg
Mason! eileen, my best friend on tour is probably mardy fish. we get along great and we stayed together during wimbledon last year. he just moved to tampa, so we live about 10 minutes away from each other and both train at saddlebrook. i'm also really good friends with jeff morrison, rob ginepri, andy roddick, and todd martin. all the americans get along well together. Hi, James Thanks for watching the match at the Legg Mason. I actually didn't choose the music, the tournament chose it and I had no idea that they were even going to play music as they introduced us. Then after they played it for my first round and I won, I had to have them keep playing the same song because I get a little superstitious sometimes. I will be back in the DC area in December to do an exhibition with Andy Roddick to benefit Pam Shriver's charity.
Dear James, I have to be honest in saying that I know next to nothing about tennis, aside from what I learned in gym class about 10 years ago! But, after watching you at the Open last week, I was not only blown away by your talent, but totally mesmerized by your presence on the court. I can only imagine the time, dedication, and life-altering changes your tennis career has demanded this far. My question to you - do you feel like a regular old twenty-something guy who is just doing a job from day to day, or do you sometimes feel like you live in a dream world where your incredible abilities have taken you to places you never imagined?? Is it difficult for you to handle fame, or is it something that you are able to embrace and enjoy? Thanks for your time,
There are times that I feel like I am a normal twenty something kid. These are usually when I'm with my buddies from high school or college that still always treat me like the same kid that they knew before any of this craziness happened. But nowadays more and more, I am reminded of how lucky I am to have all of these opportunities in my life. I am definitely living my dream. I never really expected it to be a reality, which may be why I enjoy it more than many other players. The fame that comes with it is a new and interesting side of the tennis. That is something that I really never prepared for and have only done what seems right with it. I try to just act exactly the same way my parents raised me, and that is to respect everyone the same. My coach, Brian Barker, is possibly the best person in the world to have around to keep everything in perspective when it could be pretty easy to let things go to my head.
Hi James, You are my favorite American
player. Can you answer one question that's bothered me for a while?
Why are there so many out Lesbians on the Circuit, but none of the (gay)
men in tennis have come out? Is it really that homophobic out there
? Just wondering. mr. clark, i'm not sure which players on the men's tour you are talking about, but i don't know of any that are gay. i don't know if you are referring to any players specifically, but i don't feel there would be any backlash from the other players in the locker room if a male player were to come out of the closet. i don't feel that the male players on tour are so homophobic that the issue would be a problem. Hey James, heather, i think the energy of the crowd always energizes me. i really love having a crowd behind me, i think it makes the matches so much more exciting. i especially love the davis cup atmosphere where there is a very biased crowd, more like a basketball or football crowd. i've always loved that type of crowd even more. I saw you practicing recently at Saddlebrook, what made you choose Saddlebrook as your training base? I run a lot (around Saddlebrook) and I was wondering, do think that the running you have incorporated in your training has helped you significantly? How did you get started in tennis and how old were you when you played in your first tournament? Good Luck! Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions. Tasha tasha, i'm glad you are at saddlebrook as well. i chose saddlebrook as my training facility because i really like it there. it's very peaceful and has everything i could want there. the atmosphere is very laid back and that's the way i train the best. the running i've incorporated into my training has definitely helped my tennis. it gives me confidence for every time i step onto the court that i'm in better shape. i was pretty young when i first played a tennis tournament. actually the first one i played, i think i was about 7 years old and i won without playing a match. there was nobody else signed up, so i just got the trophy.
Dear
James, john, thanks for the support in d.c. i appreciated all the fans cheering me on. i would tell a player like you to enjoy yourself and try to improve for the sake of bettering yourself. i never necessarily set my goal when i was young to be a pro tennis player. of course it was a dream of mine, but i was realistic in knowing that it probably wouldn't happen. so i just wanted to improve and continue to have fun, and that's what i did and had a great time the whole way. i would say my main goal at that time was just to get the most out of my talent, i think that's all we can hope for, and i'm still trying to do that. i wanted to be happy no matter what level i reached. as for what string i use, it's luxilon "big banger" right now, but i'm thinking about switching to gosen string. good luck.
James, Congratulations on your
recent performance in the US Open. May your successes continue for many
years to come. I look foward to you being ranked # 1. Recently, I have
noticed that you are developing a wonderful relationship with American
Express. The postcards and commercials are great. How long have you
been carrying the card? Also, have you had the great pleasure of meeting
the CEO, Ken Chenault. You seem to possess many of the same great qualities.
May your career be as rewarding as Mr. Chenault'. keith, i do have a very good relationship with american express. i was really happy with how the ads came out during the u.s. open. it was a little strange to see a big picture of me on the side of a bus in new york city, but very exciting. i've had the card since 2001, so not too long. i haven't met the ceo of the company, but maybe if i continue to have success and they continue using my image in their ad campaigns i'll get a chance to meet him in the future. James, Andy andy, i did wear the mcenroe retro gear at the u.s. open last year. i'm not sure exactly what nike plans to do in the future with other possible retro gear. i really enjoyed wearing it and got a lot of compliments on it. i think nike is moving forward with the technology though, so i doubt more retro stuff will be out this year, but maybe next year.
Hey James, My name is Jessica and I'm
a senior at the University of Maryland at College Park (Go Terps!).
I just found this website and I enjoy it very much. Great job to the
creator! God bless, P.S. jessica, i might be playing the legg mason this year. my first option is to play the olympics that week, but it will depend if i qualify or not. if i don't, i will definitely play the legg mason. as for the "trimming weight" remark, i think it was kind of a hint to cutting my hair, but i'm glad that you were concerned.
i just want to say that it's a pleasure watching you play on the court. my brother and i have been watching you for a while now and continue to be amazed and impressed with your skill and court etiquette. i saw your game today against safin. i was cheering you on during the entire game. i hope you don't take the loss too hard and move on with an open heart and mind. i'm not clairvoyant, but take it from me, i see big things for you...on the court and with your charity work. anyhow, my question for you
is this. do you find any films or music personally inspirational? i
ask because i am currently a film student at at the moment, i am playing
u2's the joshua tree...over and over again. i don't think that album
will ever get old for me. the perfect fusion of take care and godspeed, heidi, i do find some movies and music inspirational. the rocky films are all classics for me, i think any athlete loves relating to those. as for music, i love eminem, and actually find some of his music inspirational, like "lose yourself". but one of my favorite songs for inspiration is notorious b.i.g.'s "juicy". i used to listen to that before every match.
olivia, good luck with making the team. as for tips, it's kind of hard for me to give you any unless i saw you play. tennis is such an individual sport, i would just tell you to try to find what works for you, and stick with it.
prime, i don't think i'll be doing mtv cribs anytime soon. i don't feel the need to waste money on tons of opulent things, so i don't think i'd fit in on that show.
ps: i know that lots of people prefer your dreds but i think the shaved head really suits you. actually it makes you look quite middle eastern!! (that's supposed to be a compliment) sheda, i haven't read any feminist literature. i read a lot of biographies, and non-fiction, and of course the things that interest me the most are the ones that i feel like i have a connection with. so that doesn't usually relate to feminist literature for me.
brian, there is a huge difference between college and pros. i was number one in college when i left, and it took me about 2 and half years to really do anything on tour. that was how big of a jump it is. there are so many good players on tour, that you can basically never have an off day. one off day, and you lose, you can get away with so much more in college, but the guys on tour are just better prepared physically and mentally for every single match they play. good luck.
Alex alex, my dreads just turned
like that on their own. i just stopped brushing my hair or picking it
out, and it turned into dreads. i don't think that is too normal, so
you might have to do something to get yours to lock up, but i hope it
works. Hi James- Thanks for being such a great professional, both on and off the court. I have what's probably an odd question: How do you decide what to do if you win the pre-match coin toss? I'm an economist and I'm analyzing the choices players make at Wimbledon to see if they're making the best choices. I'd love to know how you decide what to do if you win the toss and if it varies by surface and/or opponent. Thanks and best wishes, troy, i generally choose
to serve first. the only time i differ from this pattern is if there
is a lot of sun, in which case i choose the side with the sun to start
with. i feel like this gives me an advantage because i get to warm up
on the side that is more difficult to get used to. but i feel like serving
first is better in case the whole set stays on serve, i like to have
an opportunity to return at 4-5, and 5-6. i feel like this is a time
when other guys can get a little nervous and i can take advantage of
that. Would you consider spending a weekend with someone like Pete Sampras or Mats Wilander etc...,to Improve parts of your game? Sampras did that with Lendl and it improved his game immensely. Robyn robyn, i have spent quite a bit of time with mats wilander in the past. i had the opportunity to practice with him in connecticut when i was growing up and he was making his comeback. he definitely helped me a lot with the mental side of preparing for the tour. i am very thankful to him for that. pete has also been helpful to me in my career. he taught more by example, but he showed me the value of a short memory in tennis. if you have a bad day, he taught me that that's all it is, don't analyze it any more than that, and move on. he was one of the best in the world at that, and never doubted himself.
Cole cole, i wouldn't go as far as to call al franken "ultra left-wing", but i do share some views with him. i think michael moore is a little bit extreme in his views, but i find his books very interesting and educational. i'm not going to delve into all of my political views right now, but i would definitely say that i am a democrat, so i am always more likely to be reading al franken instead of ann coulter.
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