James Blake Crashes Out In Washington

James Blake's hope of climbling back up the ranking suffered a heavy blow yesterday after he crashed out of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic event in Washington D.C.

Blake has been a former champion and took the opening set agains qualifyer and compatriot Ryan Sweeting before his lack of matches began to show.

The American played his first match in Los Angeles last week, where he made the quarter finals, after being out of action for two months with more injury problems.

But Sweeting hit back in the second as the aggression and powerful hitting that Blake had demonstrated in the opening set began to fade.

Sweeting took the second set as he began to play with more confidence. And the momentumn was well and truly with him him when he broke Blake in the third game of the deciding set.

Blake had chances to break back the final three service games from Sweeting but was unable to convert any of the chances that came his way and Sweeting wrapped up a 3-6 6-3 6-4 victory.

Speaking to USA Today after the match Blake said: "My knee feels much better. That was the main reason for (the comments) at Wimbledon. I couldn't deal with the pain all the time, not being able to train and not being 100% on the court. Now, my knee is better.

"Obviously, I'm always thinking about the future. I'm aware my career is finite. Right now, my main focus is being a better tennis player."

Sweeting will now face Michael Llodra in the second round after the Fenchman received a bye.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw