some interesting read on
www.askmen.com 
overallAs a player, James Blake is a testament to the power of determination, talent and perseverance. After overcoming scoliosis as a teen, Blake broke his neck during practice in 2004, then returned home only to watch his father die of cancer. And if losing your father and breaking your neck aren't bad enough, Blake ended up suffering through a serious viral infection that same year. But as we all know now, Blake has bounced back to reclaim his place as one of the best tennis players on the planet.
And although Blake, now in his mid-20s, may be nearing the halfway mark of his career, he has plenty of sex appeal and style to keep him busy long after he leaves the tennis court. Then again, judging by his resiliency so far, that time may be far off yet.
personality & talentAs a child, James Blake was a self-confessed "brat" on the court (perhaps thanks to the poor example of John McEnroe). But suffering through scoliosis (a curvature of the back) as a teen turned him around so much that his mother didn't believe it when the 17-year-old told her he had won a sportsmanship award. While Blake is very sociable, he remains a driven perfectionist who, like his father, tends to internalize his struggles rather than complain about them.
Certainly, James Blake has a wealth of natural tennis talent -- his father was an avid tennis player and his brother also plays professionally -- but as an individual, James is known for his speed and agility, which allows him to cover the tennis court with remarkable ease. His signature stroke is a down the line winner from an almost impossible position (which he's able to pull off thanks to his "monster" forehand).
woman magnetismIn 2002, James Blake was named the world's sexiest athlete by People magazine. If he wasn't already a tennis player, his good looks could have made him a successful model. As it is, Blake has a modeling contract with IMG models, posed in GQ and Teen Vogue, and modeled fashions for DKNY and Kenneth Cole.
Sadly for those women who think James Blake is a dream come true, the sexy tennis star currently has a girlfriend, Jennifer Scholle. The two met in 2004 when Blake's face was still half-paralyzed by illness. "This one I think might be around for quite a while," Blake recently conceded.
accomplishments & fameJames Blake went from being the No. 1 college player of the late 1990s to a rising star in the world of professional tennis, ranked as high as 22nd in 2003. But perhaps his greatest accomplishment was coming back from a broken neck to scare the crap out of Andre Agassi during Blake's best performance to date at the 2005 US Open. In addition to his breakthrough match against Agassi, Blake has also won the 2005 Stockholm Open and the 2005 Pilot Pen tournament.
While Blake's disastrous accident in 2004 seriously derailed his ascent into the upper echelons of professional tennis, his stunning comeback in 2005 has made him even more famous. Already well known before his broken neck -- he had been featured in People and various sports magazines, and even met Pope John Paul II -- Blake's post-injury comeback has solidified his star status with profiles on 60 Minutes and endorsement deals with Prince racquets. Blake's time in the limelight, like his tennis career, once again seems far from over.
coolness factorBeing a tennis star may not be the sporting dream of most young men, but James Blake has proved that he can bounce back from more punishment than any football or hockey player. With more class acts like Blake, tennis might yet become a cool, competitive sport for the average red-blooded male -- who, at the moment, would rather watch Russian girls dash across the court than American men.
But Blake is a well-rounded athlete, so his interest in golf, basketball and baseball still makes him a cool guy for those not big on tennis. Blake is also an avid poker player, who's been featured on Bravo's Celebrity Poker Showdown.
personal styleJames Blake has an eye for fashion. Whether it's the hottest sleeveless tee or a cool suede jacket, Blake always looks stylish -- on and off the court. Then again, it's easy to develop your sense of style when Nike supplies your clothes and the Association of Tennis Professionals invites you to Giorgio Armani parties in Rome.
Blake used to be known as "the cool dude in the dreadlocks," but not long ago, he tired of the look and decided to revamp his style by shaving his head. Unfortunately, what makes good fashion sense to Blake may have hurt his pocketbook -- his agent says cutting his dreadlocks may have cost him $1 million in endorsements.
.
Sixpack guard 
