Blake: Federer's season deserves praise

By Bill Scott

BASEL, Switzerland—Ever-effusive in his praise of Roger Federer, world No. 11 James Blake said yesterday that the media has treated the Swiss superstar unjustly during a season when the reigning U.S. Open champ relinquished the world No. 1 ranking.

“Most guys would kill to have what is considered for Roger a poor season," Blake told reporters following his three-set victory over Nicolas Kiefer in the first round of the Swiss Indoors. “Guys are writing that he's finished just because he didn't win three Slams this season.

"It's so unfair to say he's had a bad year. I'm happy that he won Olympic doubles gold and I certainly expected him to be back in New York," he said in reference to Federer’s sole Grand Slam title of the year.

The magnanimous Blake has long been close to the Basel-born Federer. In his book “Breaking Back,” published last year, Blake said that when he was hospitalized in Rome in 2004 with a fractured vertebrae, Federer was the only tour player to acknowledge his accident.

The friendship has not yielded much of an on-court rivalry, however: Blake was winless in eight matches against Federer during a five-year period that ended in August at the Summer Olympics in Beijing. There, Blake earned his first career victory against Federer, winning 6-4, 7-6 in the quarterfinals.

The 28-year-old said this week that the Olympic victory did not portend a power shift for his future meetings with the 13-time Grand Slam champion. But though Blake expects Federer to remain at the top of the game for the forseeable future, he said he and his peers appreciate what Federer has already accomplished in his career – in terms of both competitive credentials, and the style in which he’s amassed them.

"All of us know how tough it is to do what he's done. To do so well for so long and never really lose his temper -- that's exceptional. The players appreciate how gracious he is and what he's done for the sport."

Blake is still in the thick of the chase for one of the three remaining berths in the year-end Masters Cup in Shanghai.

The American is hoping to qualify along with countryman Andy Roddick – who has yet to clinch a spot – and would love to reprise his 2006 run to the Masters Cup final. That year he was thrashed by Federer in three lopsided sets in the championship match.

Blake claims to be unconcerned by his slim chance at qualifying for Shanghai.

"We'll see what happens. If I get in great, if not, then there's a silver lining of one more week at home and a longer off-season."