Blake happy to avoid bowing out on historic anniversary

James Blake just about achieved his wish of avoiding defeat on the 50th anniversary of the Great March On Washington when his career-ending loss at the US Open concluded past midnight at Flushing Meadows on Thursday. 

The American former world number four had led two sets to love before succumbing to Croatian giant Ivo Karlovic 6-7(2), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(2), 7-6(2) in front of more than 10,000 fans, who gave him a standing ovation as he left Louis Armstrong Stadium.

‘I thought about that a lot this morning,’ Blake said of the anniversary of the civil rights protest that was highlighted by Martin Luther King’s famous ‘I Have a Dream’ speech. ‘I thought it would be a great day to get a win because of how important this day is in our history,’ he said of a first round match that had started late in the evening on Wednesday

‘Maybe we should take it that at midnight, hopefully I was winning... and I lost the next day.’ The African-American Blake was inspired to play tennis when he heard three-time grand slam winner Arthur Ashe speak in Harlem and the 33-year-old New York native has been outspoken on social issues throughout his career.

‘To have something that was a demonstration 50 years ago that still resonates today, and still is sort of a beacon for what Martin Luther King did.’