So today, along with a bunch of other upsets, James Blake, the USs comeback kid, beat Roger Federer. That's right. I know Federer lost to Nadal in that epic Wimbledon match but he's still ranked #1 in the world. OK, so I don't hate him, he's really good and I love wathing him play but I really love James Blake. The first match I ever went to was the US Open a few years ago, just before he had a terrible string of luck: a broken back, his father died of cancer, and after he had developed a BAD BAD case of shingles. He lost to Lleyton Hewitt(just off his montrous win at the Australian Open) in a 5 sets. I'll never forget it. Granted, James Blake is never a super underdog. He's beaten both Federer and Nadal before. He just never got the stardom because he hasn't won a grand slam. So, go James Blake, you da man.
I'm rootin for him. He was actually 0-8 vs. Federer I read that in a couple articles. If he reaches Nadal it will be a tough test for him.
I like James Blake, he's a good player that could definitely win a slam. Roger Federer will lose the #1 spot as soon as someone puts together a better 12 month stretch than him... that's how the ATP ranking system works.
^That should have happened a couple weeks ago. Roger is on his way to a better than average player, no longer great...he doesnt have much strength, he gets his power from nice awesome clean shots, not pure power like Nadal, & his forehand is failing him. I like Blake for sure man, not just because he's an American...however, I think he's a good player, but he's not even close to the same caliber as Nadal or Roger, or even Jock'o vich. It'll still be good if he claim Bronze... BEIJING (AP) - Fernando Gonzalez of Chile saved three match points Friday to beat James Blake of the United States 4-6, 7-5, 11-9 and advance to the Olympic final. Gonzalez fell behind 5-6, love-40 serving in the final set. But the Chilean hit four consecutive winners to hold, and on his fifth match point in the final game, he smacked a serve that Blake hit into the net. The eighth-seeded Blake, a first-time Olympian at 28 and the last hope for a U.S. medal in singles, still has a shot at the bronze. After beating Roger Federer on Thursday, Blake showed no sign of an upset hangover. He served well against Gonzalez, winning 15 consecutive service points at one stretch, and repeatedly negated the big-swinging Chilean's forehand by pinning him deep in baseline rallies. Blake even pulled off a nifty trick shot, retreating to retrieve a lob and bravely swatting the ball between his legs. Gonzalez was so startled he dumped an easy forehand into the net. Three times in the second set, Blake was two points from victory. But the best opportunity came in the third set, when he went for a winner on his first match point and sailed a forehand long. Gonzalez then hit four winners in a row to hold for 6-all, and eight games later he was thrusting his arms to sky after clinching a medal. Four years ago in Athens, he and Nicolas Massu won the doubles for Chile's first gold medal in any sport. Seeded 12th, Gonzalez will play in Sunday's final against the winner of the later match between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Federer kept alive a bid for the first medal of his career by winning a rain-interrupted doubles match with Swiss partner Stanislas Wawrinka. They advanced to a semifinal match later Friday against top-seeded Mike and Bob Bryan of the United States by beating Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes of India 6-2, 6-4. Venus and Serena Williams, both eliminated in singles Thursday, completed a suspended second-round doubles match and beat Ayumi Morita and Ai Sugiyama of Japan, 7-5, 6-2. The two doubles matches were suspended at 1:15 a.m. because of rain and resumed 15 hours later.
Has Blake really beaten Federer before the Olympics? I don't recall. When? Guess I've been living under a bed, or something...
As far as I know, this is the first time that Blake has beaten Roger period...in fact, I would say that was his biggest match ever.
I'm a big federer fan.. so I almost cried when I saw he had lost to blake. Roger has gotta be embarassed. anybody think nadal will beat roger's run as #1?
Yeah bro, Nadal is the man...he's just got so much game & power. I think Roger needs to improve his workout, needs some more strength, & I've seen him get more tired here lately then before. He's still one of the greatest I have seen in many years if not forever, its easy to forget what he has done over the last couple of years. He's starting to lose his cool a little as well, & that was one of his problems when he first came around.
Nadal is a beast.. I hate to admit it. I'm hoping Roger losing his #1 world ranking will encourage him to work a lot harder. He just seems to have gotten sloppy and can't stay focused. Nadal is scary good though, idk if even a renewed Federer can take him down.
