James Blake is one of the greatest tennis players in recent American history.

In 2006 he was number four in the world.

Throughout his 12 year career he won 59% of his matches, including a win against Roger

Federer and three wins against Rafa Nidal.

He's also a super nice guy who went to Harvard.

His life is a movie.

I remember when James first exploded at the U.S. Open when the world got to see his huge

forehand, which was amazing to watch. So exciting. I've

been playing tennis all my life and it was a thrill to watch James's career from the

beginning to the end. I grew up playing at Sportsman's Tennis Club in

Dorchester, Massachusetts, a not-for-profit club that has a mission of

teaching kids to play tennis, so everything it does is about getting more money

to help the kids learn how to play for less money. When I was a junior there in the

70s they brought in Arthur Ash to speak to us kids.

17 years ago Venus Williams came by and gave a clinic

when she was the reigning Wimbledon and US Open champion.

And earlier this summer summer James Blake came through for a day of teaching

kids tennis. I got to hit with him for a minute which was really exciting but more exciting was interviewing him for this show right on

court five in front of a few hundred people it's James Blake on Torrey Show. What did you do as a junior that really work that really help propel you to a professional level?

Well, I'll let Brian answer it too, but I would say part of our strategy was to think a little more long term as opposed to I was 11 or 12 years old and I switched to a one-handed back. I didn't have a huge loopy strokes.

And my dad and my coach definitely always stressed that

12s aren't as important, 14s aren't as important,

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