James Blake’s Wimbledon campaign has again ended in the first week of the championships. The American number two has never progressed past the third round at the grass Grand Slam in seven appearances, a remarkable record for a player consistently ranked in the world’s top 20.
In truth Blake has under-achieved at all four majors – three quarter final appearances from 30 Grand Slam entries is a poor reflection of his talents – but his disappointing Wimbledon record is particularly puzzling.
Blake has the game to perform well on grass. His easy movement and neat footwork, key ingredients for success on the surface, combined with his excellent return of serve and ability to hit winners, suggests he should be a grass court specialist. He is also more comfortable at the net than many players.
The inconsistency that plagues Blake is perhaps a factor for this under-performance on grass. He is a shot-maker who likes to hit winners, in contrast the counter-punching style that other top players adopt. There is less margin for error on grass and the desire to win points early means Blake gives away points as much as he wins them outright.
This approach on grass seemed this year to be paying off; Blake reached the final at Queen’s club, the grass court Wimbledon warm-up event, pushing Andy Murray close in two tight sets. He had laid the platform for a good Wimbledon campaign.
Instead Blake bowed out on the first day, losing in straight sets to world number 79, Andreas Seppi. The Italian played well, showing why he reached the third round at Wimbledon in 2008, although Blake did not make him work particularly hard for the win.
The frustration that so often accompanies Blake’s poorer displays appeared early, suggesting his poor overall Grand Slam record is partly due to a lack of mental focus. He needs to find the remedy, as time is running out for Blake to do himself justice at the major tournaments.
Original Story:
http://www.sportsloungeblog.com/2009/...
In truth Blake has under-achieved at all four majors – three quarter final appearances from 30 Grand Slam entries is a poor reflection of his talents – but his disappointing Wimbledon record is particularly puzzling.
Blake has the game to perform well on grass. His easy movement and neat footwork, key ingredients for success on the surface, combined with his excellent return of serve and ability to hit winners, suggests he should be a grass court specialist. He is also more comfortable at the net than many players.
The inconsistency that plagues Blake is perhaps a factor for this under-performance on grass. He is a shot-maker who likes to hit winners, in contrast the counter-punching style that other top players adopt. There is less margin for error on grass and the desire to win points early means Blake gives away points as much as he wins them outright.
This approach on grass seemed this year to be paying off; Blake reached the final at Queen’s club, the grass court Wimbledon warm-up event, pushing Andy Murray close in two tight sets. He had laid the platform for a good Wimbledon campaign.
Instead Blake bowed out on the first day, losing in straight sets to world number 79, Andreas Seppi. The Italian played well, showing why he reached the third round at Wimbledon in 2008, although Blake did not make him work particularly hard for the win.
The frustration that so often accompanies Blake’s poorer displays appeared early, suggesting his poor overall Grand Slam record is partly due to a lack of mental focus. He needs to find the remedy, as time is running out for Blake to do himself justice at the major tournaments.
Original Story:
http://www.sportsloungeblog.com/2009/...
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