James Blake Close Quotations

Knowing that I was that close to a semi or final, it makes me realize that the goal going into these Slams isn't just getting to the second week. Maybe I can get in there and win one.

He made me earn it today. He's gotten me in so many close matches and beaten me up so many times.

Being this close to home, you really can't beat it with this crowd, ... I'm staying in my own bed, being around so many friends, people that go way back, that know me from when I was a kid, is something that is very rare on tour. We travel the world, so it's very seldom that we're in our hometown.

Everyone seems to have a connection to me, and that?s such a great feeling. That?s what comes with growing up close to here and going to high school around here and trying to be as friendly as you can to those people around you. It makes for great fans ... even if they do happen to cheer a few times when he double faults. You just kind of grin and bear it.

It will definitely be fun if I get a chance to play him. We have some sort of a history in the fact that we've had a few five-setters, some really close matches.

Him and Roger (Federer) have just really dominated this year, ... And so I went in with nothing to lose...It helped me knowing that I had played really close with Roger, played really close with (Andy) Roddick.

It's a lot of fun, ... Just being home, staying in my own bed, being around so many friends, people that go way back ... it's something that's very rare on tour. To be back so close to my hometown is a great feeling.

You have to play pretty close to perfect.

He's one of the hottest players on the circuit right now, ... And I'm playing close to my best, so it should be a good match.