James Blake was once #4 in the world and #1 in America. He beat both Federer and Nadal. But what’s most amazing is that he played his best tennis after breaking his neck in a freak injury and contracting shingles and losing his dad—all in one year. He’s tough, smart (Harvard), humble, and cool. And still the best Black male player since Arthur Ashe. I interviewed him back in 2018 at the tennis club where I grew up, Sportsmen’s Tennis Club in Dorchester, Massachusetts, in front of a few hundred people. James is an amazing person. It’s really interesting to see how he thinks.
Toure Show Ep 36: I Beat Federer
Original Air Date: July 4, 2018
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