James Blake had an extraordinary tennis career, peaking at number four in the world. American tennis is currently in a strong position after the 2024 ATP season, with several players vying at the top. Taylor Fritz achieved a remarkable feat this season by becoming the highest-ranked American in 18 years. His performances throughout 2024 were outstanding. Fritz reached the US Open final but lost to Jannik Sinner and then again at the ATP Finals. 18 years ago, it was James Blake who reached the same lofty position in 2006. Now, Blake works as the tournament director for the Miami Open. Taking a break from the 2025 tournament preparations, he looked back at the one point he most regretted losing in his career.

James Blake's Regretful Point

Appearing as a guest on the Nothing Major podcast, Blake was asked if there was a specific match he wished he could change the result of. "I would even say I would replay one point," said Blake. "When I played [Andre] Agassi in the 2005 [US Open] quarters. I played three quarters and lost to Roger [Federer], Roger, and Andre. Those matches against Roger were tough as he was too good. But that match against Andre, I definitely had an opportunity. I was up two sets to love, went to 6-6 in the fifth set tiebreak, and then I still remember that point."19 years on, Blake still vividly remembers what happened. "We played a really good, long point. He threw in a drop shot and I got up to it in time. Even when I've talked to him about it since, he says as soon as I hit it, I knew I put a little too much air under it and he was going to get there. I got there and had time. I thought he was going to break to the forehand side and I was going to go behind him to the backhand, and it would be wide open. I hit it pretty hard, but he stayed home and absolutely tattooed a backhand past me. In retrospect, it was four hours in, and my thinking wasn't as clear as it is now. I should've gone for the easier shot for me, the easier side, away from his biggest weapon, his backhand. Make him have to hit a forehand on the run if he guessed right. So I would do that point over and give myself a match point against Andre in the fifth set tiebreak." Blake ended up losing the fifth set tiebreak 8-6 and fell at the quarter-final stage to Agassi in New York. It was the closest he came to reaching the last four of a Grand Slam and remains one of the best players in tennis history not to reach the semi-finals.

Andrey Rublev's Grand Slam Journey

World number eight Andrey Rublev holds the unfortunate distinction of being the player to have reached the most Major quarter-finals without a win. The Russian has now competed in ten Grand Slam quarter-finals, losing on every occasion.YearTournamentOpponentResult2017US Open – QFRafael NadalLost in three sets2020French Open – QFStefanos TsitsipasLost in three sets2020US Open – QFDaniil MedvedevLost in three sets2021Australian Open – QFDaniil MedvedevLost in three sets2022French Open – QFMarin CilicLost in fifth set tiebreaker2022US Open – QFFrances TiafoeLost in three sets2023Australian Open – QFNovak DjokovicLost in three sets2023Wimbledon – QFNovak DjokovicLost in four sets2023US Open – QFDaniil MedvedevLost in three sets2024Australian Open – QFJannik SinnerLost in three setsWhat makes it tougher is that Rublev was beaten in straight sets in eight of his ten Grand Slam quarter-final encounters. Only once has he come close to the last four, when he took Marin Cilic to a deciding set tiebreak at the French Open in 2022 but eventually came up short. The 27-year-old is hoping to finally get over the line in 2025 and qualify for his first Slam semi-final. Rublev is set to return to the court for the Hong Kong Open, where he is the defending champion, which begins on December 30.