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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!!! |