THE tennisreporters.net NEWSLETTER: WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, NO. 66

Blake hopes for Davis Cup slot over Fish, Dent, Ginepri in home state of Connecticut
'If it has to go to a playoff, so be it'; May face Safin, Martin in Aussie 4th round

By Sandra Harwitt
Special to tennisreporters.net

FROM THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN – How much is a lock of tennis pin-up guy James Blake's hair worth? Well, the ceiling isn't quite known regarding this possible hot property, but at the moment, the current bid on eBay is around $200.

Blake cut his trademark dreadlocks back on his 24th birthday – December 28 – and it made quite a few headlines around the world. Apparently, the American star, who is hoping for a berth on the upcoming Davis Cup team that will face Austria the weekend after the Australian Open, is happy with his new shorn look.

"[I was] just getting tired of it. It was getting in my face. It had been so long, and I'm big on changing things up. So I always like change. And I'm amazed I let it go for that long. But I just wanted a change. And this is so much simpler now. It's easy. I'm out of the shower and it's already dry pretty much. It's great. I just wanted to get rid of it. Also, it's a little cooler down here."

KNOCKS OFF LAPENTTI
Blake got sidetracked into a coiffure conversation following a tough 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), 2-6, 6-1 second-round encounter against another good looking lad on the tour, Nicolas Lapentti. The Ecuadorian was no stranger to success here in Melbourne having reached the semifinals in 1999, but his game hasn't quite materialized as anticipated when he first showed up on the circuit.

In the end, Blake took more chances in their two-hour, 39-minute encounter and it worked to his advantage. However, the No. 39 Blake wasn't as steady as he'll need to be if he's to continue his road through the draw. He had 16 opportunities to break Lapentti's serve and while he was able to take advantage of three of those, it would be nice not to pass up on other offerings, which might have made the match a bit simpler to win.

"It's definitely a match I was excited to win because Nicolas makes you play well," Blake said. "I think any time someone beats him, they have to feel good about themselves because he defends so well that you really have to keep hitting winner after winner. He's not a guy that's easy to grind down. I'm happy I got through it in four. But it was still pretty long. I definitely feel like all the fitness and training I did in the off season will make sure I'm read for Friday."

Blake, however, did get cut a break here in Melbourne when his first round opponent Carlos Moya withdrew with an ankle injury that forced him to abandon last week's Sydney final against Lleyton Hewitt. Instead of Moya, who was considered a favorite for the event if he didn't sprain his ankle early in that Sydney final since he also won the Indian Open two weeks ago, Blake played little known Peruvian lucky loser Ivan Miranda for a 6-1, 6-4, 6-1 push into the second round.

Next up on Blake's plate in the third round is No. 171 ranked French qualifier Olivier Patience, who surprisingly defeated No. 52 ranked Nikolay Davydenko of Russia 7-6 (7-2), 6-7 (7-9), 6-3, 6-2 in a second rounder on Wednesday. Should Blake win that contest, he's likely looking at a fourth round battle with four-time champ Andre Agassi.

Blake can be sure that US Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe is watching every step that his possible team candidates is making here in Melbourne. He needs to take this match and do it with authority to send McEnroe a clear message: He's ready and eager to play in the upcoming tie, which will take place in Blake's home state of Connecticut.

It can be assumed that one advantage for Blake possibly making the team will be that No. 21 Mardy Fish went home in the first round after a difficult 7-6, 7-6, 7-6 loss to No. 72 ranked Ivo Karlovic of Croatia. Of course, No. 1 Andy Roddick is a given for the squad, leaving Blake to fight out the remaining singles slot with Taylor Dent and Robby Ginepri for a spot on the team. Dent showed a good deal of muster coming through a long 3-6, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 7-5 second-round encounter against pesky Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela. Ginepri toasted Aussie Chris Guccione. Dent has an extremely difficult tussle coming with Roddick, while Ginepri has not easy draw when he faces the red-hot Nicolas Escude of France.

"I would love to play [Davis Cup] but I haven't thought about it so much because I want to do well here," Blake said. "But I would love to play in my home state, but that's Patrick's decision. I was talking with Todd Martin a little bit about it the other day. Let's hope it's a good situation for him to be in, to have a few too many horses. I guess, between Mardy and Taylor and Robby and myself all kind of fighting it out for that last spot. I think it helps that we're such good friends, that no one's gonna have hurt feelings if they get left off.

"I'm just out here trying to prove myself. Mainly for me, but if Patrick takes notice, that's great. I really hope I can play in my home state. If it has to go to we're playing off or whatever, so be it. I'm ready to take that call if he wants to give me the call."

Blake Clips for Friend's Hoops Team
For all those female Blake fans, not to worry, the part-time model still looks as handsome as ever. And he did take scissor to hair for a good charitable cause to help a friend out.

"A friend of mine back home coaches a girl's basketball team from an urban environment that really doesn't have the money to fund their travels. They're kind of like an all-star team that doesn't get the opportunity often to play in these big tournaments that could possibly get them scholarships for colleges. And they wouldn't have the money to pay for college, so they don't get really too many chances. It's just a way for me to possibly give them an opportunity to get so much out of sports since I've gotten so much out of sports. They're a group of girls that they enjoy playing for the love of the game. Now they'll, hopefully, get a chance to keep playing through college."

To raise the money for the team, the idea is to sell souvenir locks of Blake's hair on the granddaddy of selling web sites, eBay.

"Right now it is up [on eBay) in special packages; you got a lock of hair, a Dunlop bag, Nike bag, a racket, poster and a letter from me. [I] think right now they're both around $200. So, I need to raise a little bit more money. Then the rest of them [locks of his hair, that is] will be auctioned off individually just by themselves."

Say what, James? Not every purchase gets a Dunlop bag, Nike bag, racket, poster and letter?