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Blake upsets Washington at Hall of Fame Championships

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Posted: Tuesday July 06, 1999 01:04 AM

MaliVai Washington's appearance was his first of the year and his first on grass since losing the 1996 Wimbledon final. AP

NEWPORT, R.I. (AP) -- College star James Blake made an auspicious professional debut in rallying to defeat former Wimbledon finalist MaliVai Washington 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 Monday in the first round of the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships.

Blake, 19, who reached the 1999 NCAA final as a Harvard sophomore before turning pro three weeks ago, blamed nerves for his rough first set.

"After the first set, I told myself to stop worrying and have fun," Blake said. "Going into the match, I had so many thoughts going through my head."

Blake, who competed in the tournament, sponsored by Miller Lite, as an amateur last year, said one of those thoughts was his opponent.

"He's been a role model of mine my whole life. The first set I think I was a little tight because of who he is."

Washington's appearance was his first of the year and his first on grass since losing the 1996 Wimbledon final to Richard Krajicek. He has been working to strengthen a knee that has troubled him for more than two years.

The 30-year-old Washington acknowledged that his career is at a crossroads. He said he would determine his tennis future after seeing how his knee responds to a busier summer schedule.

Washington looked great in the first set, dominating Blake with a serve-and-volley attack.

Early in the second set, Blake chided himself: "Would you please make one good return."

He started hitting shots past a charging Washington. At the same time, Washington's game faded. His ground strokes sailed beyond the baseline and volleys were dumped into the net.

Washington said his lack of preparation might have cost him the final set, but he wouldn't blame the heat.

In other matches, Blake's older brother Thomas won a qualifying match Monday against David Wheaton, the tournament's 1994 champion.

Also in first round action, unseeded Max Mirnyi of Belarus defeated sixth-seeded American Justin Gimelstob, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2).

Sargis Sargsian, the fifth seed and 1997 champion, was the only other seeded player to play. He defeated Axel Pretzsch of Germany in three sets.

 

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