Q. What did you think about today, I mean what's your overall emotion, disappointment or --

BLAKE: Obviously a little disappointed. I'm a very competitive person, so I always want to win. But I mean, Pat was actually the one last -- about a year ago when I was getting close to playing well in Challengers, and maybe playing all right with some tour level guys, he said that's when it's the most fun, you keep working, you know you're going to get there. I know I was close today. I had chances, get another inch on that drop volley and I had the first set. You never know,if you win one set, you could win two. I feel good about that. I feel encouraged. I played that well. It's definitely a learning experience. And I learned what that level tennis is today, and the differences. The first set could have gone either way a few times, it could have gone his way or it could have gone my way. In the second set he really got on me he sensed I was letting up a little bit. I didn't even realize it. It was a little subconscious. I realized for me to win that match I'd have to go three sets, I'd have to be out there a long time, and I tried to conserve energy in my legs. You can't do that against a player like that. You have to go after every ball a hundred percent, and really go after it. That's the only way you'll have a chance. You saw it happen, the second set he stepped up, I let up. I can't say I let up any more than 2 percent, if even that. He took advantage of that and got to every ball and made me get into position and hit every shot. If you can't do that, you can't compete out there, at least with top guys like Pat. He saw what was happening and took advantage.

Q. Did he say anything to you afterward?

BLAKE: Yeah. He asked me if now I believe I can beat someone like him, or him. And it really made me feel good that he said that. Like I hope that I'm close, and he said, really, you are, and I hope you believe that, and good luck to you, I really think it's going to happen soon. That's very encouraging. He's such a nice guy to take the time to say that to a young guy on the tour that's just starting out, maybe in the same position he was in seven, eight years ago. It's really great of him. He's the ultimate sportsman, just the fact he gave me a call out there when he didn't have to, he could have taken the game, I could have come back and broke him. There's no one else out there that would have done that, I'm sure. He's got my vote for the response man of the year. If he goes out with the sportsmanship award.

Q. Besides -- you mentioned letting down a little bit physically to try to conserve for the third set, his drop volley, was that deflating at all, mentally?

BLAKE: Yeah. I think that's probably the reason I let down a little bit. I was thinking about that, and how close I was, and that's -- I mean, that's one difference between the top guys and the others. He wouldn't let that bother him. He double-faulted on a key point, got right back and hit a solid point and made me hit an extra ball. That's something I learned today. You got to play well after you lose or win, you got to treat every point the same, every point can be a tournament point, and try to take advantage, and try to win every single point.

Q. Do you feel like your game is close enough, is it now just the mental adjustment to believing you can win a match like that?

BLAKE: I think my game is definitely getting very close to being there. And I think the mental aspect is what is making the difference right now; mental, and just being in the kind of shape to be able to do this day in and date out against this level of player. Against this level of player you have to work harder, even for a four and four victory. Against a player like that you, have to work very hard every point. It's a credit to his training, he played six matches last week in the heat in Montreal, came here, had one day off, and played three straight matches very well. I think I let down physically a little bit, and he stepped it up. That's after three matches in this heat. That's something that's easy to remedy, you go home and work hard, hit the gym and the treadmill. I look forward to it. After I lose, I really want to work harder so I don't have that feeling again. But I think that will make a big difference, and when I go out there and have that confidence that I can physically stay in there with anyone on tour, that will make a big difference in my mental game. And, like I said, I definitely think the strokes and technique and everything that's getting very close.

Q. I don't know if it works like this mentally, but do you leave this tournament with just a different outlook than when you went in?

BLAKE: I leave this tournament feeling like I had a good week. Can't look at, well, I just lost a close match, and I feel bad about it, 'cause sixty-four guys in this tournament and one guy wins, so everyone is going to go out losing a match. I had a good week and played three good matches, try to build on that and play the same level, and keep improving. I don't look at anything any differently. I just have a little bit more confidence. When you win a few matches, that's what comes with it. Hopefully, you can build on it and get more confidence and hopefully and keep playing better