Freshman Phenom Set for Big Time

The Harvard tennis program knew that its life with the Blake brothers would be short lived. The two would dominate the tennis circuit together, often playing on the same doubles team, for one year until it was time for senior Tom to graduate. Freshman James would then continue the Blake legacy in Harvard tennis for three more years.

Nobody expected the one-year Blake brother show to be the family's final act in college.

Yet, that may very well be the case as James will play in several pro tournaments this summer as an amateur. If his venture is successful, he will forgo his college eligibility and join the professional circuit full time.

"I will play this summer, and if I do well enough to earn a contract, than I might turn pro," Blake said. "I think you only have a certain amount of time to play tennis at this level, and companies are looking for younger and younger talent to catch them at their peak."

While no one expected Blake to leave Harvard after one year, very few foresaw the great improvement he made this year.

Blake joined the team in the fall with the full intention of playing all four years at Harvard, but his exceptional play this year led him to consider the pro option.

"Playing pro was not my goal this year," Blake said. "But this year I've grown and I've gained more confidence on the court. I realized that I can play at the level of the top guys."

Blake quickly turned some heads this season as he made the semifinals of the Penn Classic in the fall. At the National Indoor Championships, he eliminated the No.8 seed, Mike Brian, and advanced to the semifinals in doubles with his brother.

It was after that tournament he seriously entertained the notion of turning pro.

"When I beat Mike Brian, a player who I grew up watching, I knew that nothing could stop me if I keep improving."

His superb play has boosted him to the number one ranking in the USTA Boys 18s.

This decision to turn professional had been the center of some controversy. For a while, Blake considered transferring to Stanford, the top-ranked tennis team in the nation.

Instead of moving up the ranking in college, Blake hopes to gradually climb the professional ladder. He will begin at the satellite level for experience and quickly move up to futures level. Blake feels he can accumulate enough tour points to qualify for a major tournament at Washington D.C. and the Pilot Pen tournament.

The dream scenario has Blake entering his first grand slam event, the U.S. Open, in August. Along the way, he will play on the U.S. national team with his brother Tom, with whom he will probably again pair for doubles contests. The top six college players make the national squad.

"I have a pretty solid schedule worked out for the summer," Blake said. "We'll see what happens."

Even if he does not achieve his dream, Blake still will most likely take the fall semester off to continue playing professionally as there are few major college tennis tournaments then. He will make a final decision about returning to Harvard in the spring.

As long as he accepts only expenses for compensation he can retain his amateur status. Blake does not foresee creating a rift with his teammates over a potential departure.

"This team is a great bunch of guys," Blake said. "There is not any other tennis team in the country that gets along better than we do."

Blake made his decision after a couple of months of careful consideration and consultation with many people, including his brother and Harvard Coach Dave Fish.

"Obviously, we want what is best for James," Fish said. "This was his decision."

Tom said he told James of his own experience on the pro circuit. He had played in some professional tournaments over past summers as well. James, though, has invitations to more prestigious events and is considered a much stronger pro prospect than his older brother.

"I tried to tell him a little bit of what pro tennis is like," Tom Blake said. "I told him how tough it is."

While James listened to the advice of his brother, he tried to disassociate the emotional ties of Tom graduating.

"Not having my brother on the team is too bad," Blake said. "Eventually you have to get out of this place. I understand that, and it didn't factor in."

Only recently did he share his intentions with his teammates. His fellow tennis players have also been very supportive of his decision, even if it meant losing a potential star.

"Obviously it will be a loss," junior Kunj Majmudar said. "But we all knew he would get some tournament wildcards, and we all hope he succeeds."

Blake's departure would place another hole in the Harvard tennis roster. James and Tom are both among the top six players in the country.

In addition to them, the team also graduates co-captain Philip Tseng.

"Not having Blake out there will be tough," Majmudar said. "It's like losing another senior. It will be hard to maintain the same level of play."

The tennis team still has a talented core group of players. Majmudar and sophomore John Doran each had very good seasons, and freshman Scott Clark showed some promise.

Still, though these players would provide some very good competition for James, they could not match the level of the professional circuit.

"There are some real good players in this region," Blake said of his fellow players. "I'd get good practice with Kunj and John Doran, and there are other players in Boston."

"But an opportunity has been given to me that I can't pass up. I have to do what is best for me at this part of my life."

Everyone knew the Blake brothers had to leave Harvard sometime. They just were not suppose to reunite so quickly.