Blake: "Biggest win of my career."
Blake Brushes Haas Aside
James Blake showed everyone just why he is fast becoming one of the rising stars in men's tennis as he defeated top seed Tommy Haas to move through to the semifinals of the Kroger St. Jude in Memphis.
Looking like a man playing with full confidence, the 22-year-old put the pressure on Haas right from the start and his 6-3, 6-1 win never looked in doubt.
"This is the biggest win of my career," said Blake after recording his first win against a player in the ATP Champions Race Top 10 Leader Board. "To beat a player in the Top 10, or five as Tommy is, is just great - it feels good to get the win."
Blake had break points in Haas' first two service games before finally capitalizing in the third to lead 4-3, and with the German struggling with an arm injury, Blake sensed victory.
"It's always tough to play against someone with an injury," said Blake. "But I feel confident playing indoors, and it's always fun to see where your game is against the top players."
Pain
For Haas, who was without his coach David "Red" Ayme after the sad death of his mother on Wednesday, it was a painful experience.
"My arm is really sore," said the German, currently in fourth position in the ATP Champions Race 2002. "I didn't warm up enough before the match to get it loose. It was so tight and stiff, and I couldn't get full power on my serve.
"It's a new thing for me - I've never had an injury on my arm before - but I will see how it feels tomorrow."
Despite the defeat, Haas was full of praise for his opponent. "James played some phenomenal tennis," said Haas. "He didn't let me into the match and his game has improved a lot."
Blake now plays fellow countryman Jan-Michael Gambill, who came through a tight match against No. 5 seed Rainer Schuettler to win 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(2).
"The first set was pretty quick, and when I was a break up in the second, I was on cruise control," said Gambill. "But then he started to play some unbelievable tennis, and from then on it was really tight."
Looking like a man playing with full confidence, the 22-year-old put the pressure on Haas right from the start and his 6-3, 6-1 win never looked in doubt.
"This is the biggest win of my career," said Blake after recording his first win against a player in the ATP Champions Race Top 10 Leader Board. "To beat a player in the Top 10, or five as Tommy is, is just great - it feels good to get the win."
Blake had break points in Haas' first two service games before finally capitalizing in the third to lead 4-3, and with the German struggling with an arm injury, Blake sensed victory.
"It's always tough to play against someone with an injury," said Blake. "But I feel confident playing indoors, and it's always fun to see where your game is against the top players."
Pain
For Haas, who was without his coach David "Red" Ayme after the sad death of his mother on Wednesday, it was a painful experience.
"My arm is really sore," said the German, currently in fourth position in the ATP Champions Race 2002. "I didn't warm up enough before the match to get it loose. It was so tight and stiff, and I couldn't get full power on my serve.
"It's a new thing for me - I've never had an injury on my arm before - but I will see how it feels tomorrow."
Despite the defeat, Haas was full of praise for his opponent. "James played some phenomenal tennis," said Haas. "He didn't let me into the match and his game has improved a lot."
Blake now plays fellow countryman Jan-Michael Gambill, who came through a tight match against No. 5 seed Rainer Schuettler to win 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(2).
"The first set was pretty quick, and when I was a break up in the second, I was on cruise control," said Gambill. "But then he started to play some unbelievable tennis, and from then on it was really tight."
