TRAVISMATHEW WELCOMES JAMES BLAKE TO THE FAMILY

HIGHLIGHTS  

Former professional tennis champion turned sport commentator, writer, philanthropist and social activist, James Blake is something of a jack of all trades. And while we’ve had the honor of calling James a friend for many years, we couldn’t be more excited to welcome him as an official TravisMathew ambassador.

James has never been content to just sit still — something we appreciate about him. Instead of just kicking back in his “retirement” from professional tennis, he’s involved in more than ever.

Most recently, James has set his sights on a charity race, the “4 x 4 x 48 David Goggins Challenge” — a grueling physical challenge that requires a four mile run every four hours for 48 hours. Yep, even in the middle of the night! James decided to participate in the challenge to raise money for the James Blake Foundation, an organization he founded to invest vital seed money into cancer research. Interested in donating to the cause? You can support James’ work and learn more about his efforts HERE.

No stranger to charitable work, James also created the Thomas Blake Sr. Memorial Cancer Research Fund at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in memory of his father. He also holds an annual “Serving for a Cure” celebrity tennis and entertainment event to raise funds for cancer research and prevention.


James has had a remarkable career across the board. In the fall of 2015, while standing in front of his hotel in Midtown Manhattan awaiting a ride to the U.S. Open, a NYPD plain clothes officer threw him to the ground and handcuffed him. A case of mistaken identity became a racial profiling incident and a turning point for the former tennis player. Instead of responding with outrage and anger – a natural and easily justified response – Blake faced the incident as an opportunity for discussion with dignity and calm. A news conference and a nationally syndicated interview on television the following morning gave him the opportunity to share his experience from the day before. The story went viral.

In the summer of 2017, Blake released “Ways of Grace” a book inspired by this incident. His novel details a series of uplifting stories and small acts of grace throughout the sports world that have helped bridge cultural and racial divides.

James Blake is a host, correspondent and studio and remote analyst with ESPN, as a regular commentator for the Tennis Channel. He covers several grand slam tournaments for CNN annually and served as a commentator on NBC’s Summer Olympics tennis coverage in 2020. James wowed fans during his tennis career that featured 10 singles wins, a Davis Cup Championship and a New York Times Best Seller award for his memoir “Breaking Back”.

As tournament director of the Miami Open since 2018, James leads player relations, media, broadcast and tournament improvements and innovations.


James turned pro in 1999 while he was the No. 1 ranked player at Harvard University. Following an injury that could have ended his career, James climbed from outside the ATP Top 200 to No. 4 spot, a career-high ranking. This ranking made James the top-ranked American player in the world, a feat that led to his recognition as the 2005 ATP Comeback Player of the Year.

Not one to rest on his heels, James followed this standout year by reaching the 2006 Tennis Masters Cup and the honor of being a key contributor for the United States in the 2007 Davis Cup. In the championship tie against Russia, James went 2-0 in second singles and helped seal the victory. James retired from professional tennis at the 2013 US Open after an impressive career in the sport.

If you’re anything like us, signing James Blake to our team is exciting to you. We can’t wait to bring you more content featuring James and keep you updated on everything he’s up to!

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