Status: Former ATP player from 1996-2007. Currently coaches his brother James Blake. Former head coach of WTT’s Washington Kastles. Achieved career-high ATP singles rank of #264
DOB: December 29, 1976 In: Yonkers, N.Y.
First tennis memory: “Watching my parents play at our local park in Yonkers, NY.”
Tennis heroes: “Stefan Edberg, Arthur Ashe, Mats Wilander.”
Last book read: “Bad Luck and Trouble. I started reading Lee Childs’ Jack Reacher series last year sometime. Good way to pass the time when I can’t sleep on flights.”
Favorite movie: “Fletch.”
Current car: “I don’t own a car right now.”
First car: “My first car was a red Toyota Celica back during my senior year of high school.”
Greatest career moment: “Playing doubles in the U.S. Open with my brother. We played a couple of times. I would say the one loss I remember most was to Koenig and DeJagr because they went on to the semis. (Remember the court?) I believe it was court 7.”
Most painful career moment: “Not sure if college moments count but if so, being hurt during NCAAs my senior year is it. I tore my hamstring early at the beginning of the spring, it hadn’t fully healed by the NCAA tournament We had our best team in four years and a legitimate shot to win some matches and all I could do was watch.”
Most memorable victory: “David Ferrer. (When and where?) Tokyo, Japan, I think it was in 2003 but I’m not certain about that.”
Favorite player to watch: “Roger Federer.”
Closest tennis friends: “I get along very well with most of the American players.”
Funniest players encountered: “Tough to say with all of the different personalities out there. John Isner consistently makes me laugh but some of the time it is just at how goofy he can be.”
Toughest competitor encountered: “That’s impossible to answer. I think it takes an incredibly competitive personality to succeed on the Tour and every person I know absolutely despises losing and will do anything to avoid it.”
Strangest match: “No one match in particular comes to mind. So I guess I haven’t had too many strange matches because I have a pretty good memory of most of my results.”
Funniest tennis memory: “I’d have to say it was getting hit in the crotch with an overhead when I was playing a local men’s tournament as a junior. My partner was a good friend of mine and he basically set me up to get nailed then proceeded to stand over me and laugh while I was writhing in pain on the clay. Wasn’t funny to me at the time but it’s easy for me to see the humor now.”
Embarrassing tennis memory: “There are probably plenty out there but looking back I would say the most embarrassing memories I have are the times that I completely lost my cool on the court. A couple stand out but they consisted of me destroying rackets during matches and basically acting like a jerk.”
Why do you love playing tennis? “I love the individual nature of tennis. There is no coach or teammate out there with you during a match so you are wholly responsible for the outcome.”
People’s qualities most admired: “Honesty is very important to me. So is compassion and loyalty.”
Education: Harvard University.
Dan Markowitz · November 18, 2011 at 1:24 am
Did you ask Thomas what he does for a living? Is he James coach now? Does he travel with him full-time. Because besides being a WTT coach for a year or so, Thomas is a Harvard grad, and you wonder what career pursuit he has chosen.
Scoop Malinowski · November 18, 2011 at 12:15 pm
No I just assumed he’s coaching his brother. Also there is going to be a Blake tennis complex in the works for somewhere in CT I believe Trumbull, so he’ll probably be actively involved in that too.