Rosenhof: Story » paying. Long a fan favourite at Flushing Meadows, his mat

NEW YORK -- James Blake rested his white baseball hat on the table at the front of the U.S. Opens main interview room, smiled, and began speaking Monday about his impending retirement from tennis. The former top-five player was relaxed, composed and matter-of-fact. "No real surprise here. This is my last tournament," the 33-year-old American said on Day 1 of the years last Grand Slam. "I have had 14 pretty darn good years on tour, loved every minute of it, and I definitely couldnt have asked for a better career." As Blake continued with his opening statement, discussing why he decided to leave the tour after the U.S. Open, he explained: "There are so many athletes that say they can never replace that feeling of having that adrenaline rush, but I get more of an adrenaline rush now seeing my daughter wake up in the morning. Thats something that Im truly looking forward to -- being able to spend more time with my wife and daughter." And with that, his voice got caught on the words and his eyes reddened. Blake reached with his left hand to wipe away tears, until someone in the audience tossed him a white towel to dab at his eyes. "Despite the tears, Im actually really happy about this," Blake said. "I can do it on my own terms. Always wanted to do that. I thought about it a ton this year." Blake, who attended Harvard before turning pro in 1999, reached a career-high ranking of No. 4 in 2006. He is currently 100th and has a 9-13 record this season heading into his first-round match in the U.S. Open against Ivo Karlovic. "I dont kid myself. I know I have had a great career in my eyes, but its not one thats going to go down in the history books," Blake said. "Its not one thats going to end in Newport" -- the home of the International Tennis Hall of Fame -- "but its one that Im proud of." Blake joined Andy Roddick and twins Bob and Mike Bryan to help the United States beat Russia in the 2007 Davis Cup final in Portland, Ore., giving the Americans their first title in that international competition in 12 years, their countrys longest gap between victories. "My proudest moment was Portland, without a doubt," Blake said. He won 10 singles titles, most recently in 2007. At Grand Slam tournaments, he reached the quarterfinals three times, including twice at the U.S. Open, losing at that stage in New York to Andre Agassi in 2005, and to Roger Federer the following year. That five-set loss to Agassi, Blake said, was his "biggest highlight and lowlight, at the same time." This tournament always seemed to bring out the best in Blake, who was born in Yonkers and went to high school in Connecticut. He closed his news conference Monday by describing how he used to sneak under a fence as a kid to get into the U.S. Open without paying. Long a fan favourite at Flushing Meadows, his matches often were accompanied by raucous cheering and chanting from a sizable group of supporters known as the "J-Block." "Obviously, the U.S. Open was a special place for him. I understand how he would want to end here. You know, I think he still has a lot of great tennis in him, but hes decided that now is the time for him," said Venus Williams, the 2000-01 U.S. Open champion. "He has a family now, so those are important priorities, from what I hear. Hes ready, so all we can do is support him." Blakes announcement came a year after Roddick, his friend and former Davis Cup teammate, decided to make the U.S. Open the final tournament of his career. "I know Andys decision last year was a little different. ... We got along great, but he was a little more impetuous at times, and Im definitely a little more thought-out and it takes me a little longer," Blake said. "It took me a while to come to this decision, so Im really happy with it and comfortable with it." He talked about having come close to being forced to end his playing days nearly a decade ago because of two health scares. In May 2004, during a practice session for a tournament in Rome, Blake slipped on the clay court and slammed into a net post, breaking vertebrae in his neck. In August of that year, he got an illness that affected his sight and temporarily paralyzed part of his face. In between, his father died from stomach cancer; Blake wound up raising millions of dollars for cancer research. Asked what his plans are for now, Blake said he wants to work on his golf game -- and change his 1-year-olds diapers. Looking "way down the road," as he put it, he would like to be the U.S. Davis Cup captain, and perhaps work as a television commentator. At this very moment, though, he would like to win a match or two at his final tournament. "I dont want to be dragged out of this game. I dont want someone telling me I need to leave," Blake said. "I want to leave on my own terms. Im happy doing that right now." Donte Moncrief Jaguars Jersey . Serves hit by her surgically repaired shoulder often missed the mark, resulting in 12 double-faults. Taven Bryan Jaguars Jersey . Roma has a game in hand but now second place is even at risk for the capital side as Napoli moved to within three points with the win. "The result is not always fair," Roma coach Rudi Garcia said. "If we play like this until the end we will win many matches. http://www.authenticjaguarslockroom.com/Youth-Niles-Paul-Elite-Jersey/ .ca contributor Grant McCagg provides a look at some risers and fallers on the prospect watch. Jaguars Jerseys . Tony Parker had 33 points and nine assists and San Antonio never trailed in a resounding 116-92 victory over Portland, bullying the younger Trail Blazers in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals. Ronnie Harrison Jaguars Jersey . - Chelseas 1-0 win at the Etihad, spoiling Manchester Citys perfect home record continues to be the talking point of the week.The Toronto Blue Jays will attempt to bounce back, as they begin a three-game set against Cleveland with the struggling Justin Masterson on the mound for the Indians. The Blue Jays lost both installments of their double-header with the Twins on Thursday, falling 7-0 in the early game before suffering a 9-5 setback in the second matchup. Toronto went into the eighth inning of the second half of the doubleheader holding a 5-3 advantage, but the Twins responded with a six-run surge in the bottom part of the inning that put the game out of reach. Torontos bullpen had been one of its major strengths this season, however three relievers combined to walk a franchise-record eight batters and throw three wild pitches in the costly eighth inning on Thursday. "We just couldnt throw strikes, we didnt pitch very good all series," manager John Gibbons said after the game. "Its cold, OK, but you know what? Its cold for both sides, and if youre ever going to get to October in the playoffs, its going to be cold. We didnt pitch very well. We were in a position to win that one and we coughed it up." Jose Bautista belted a solo shot and scored twice for the Blue Jays, who went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left 11 men on base. Bautista is pacing the club with six homers, 11 RBI and 14 runs scored, while Melky Cabrera is batting a team-best .301. Torontos poor performance pit it two games back of the AL East-leading Yankees. The Blue Jays will look to bounce back with right-hander Drew Hutchison on the hill. Although he held the Orioles scoreless for six innings in his last appearance, Hutchison took a no-decision due to a lack of run support. He wwill face Masterson, who was expecting to be Clevelands ace once again after recording a team-high 14 wins during a 2013 run to the playoffs.dddddddddddd However, 2014 has been a different story for Masterson and the Indians, who rank 25th in the MLB in ERA (4.35) and 22nd in quality starts with six. Masterson was lucky to avoid a losing decision in his last appearance as he surrendered six runs (five earned) while walking five in just 4 2/3 innings of work versus the White Sox. Masterson seems to believe its only a matter of time before Clevelands starting staff gets back on track. "We just havent been able to get deep into the ballgame," Masterson said. "I think weve all had glimpses of great things, and then weve kind of gotten unraveled ever so slightly as weve gone along. Again, and you look at it, too, been some tough breaks for other guys. You look at certain plays that go this way or that way and it could be a lot different story." The Tribe were defeated, 7-5, by Detroit on Thursday to conclude their seven- game road swing. Clevelands offense was impressive in the setback. Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer and added a two-run single, while Lonnie Chisenhall went 4-for-4 and David Murphy knocked in Clevelands other run. Chisenhall raised his average to .522 after 23 at-bats in the loss. Jason Kipnis was ejected in the third inning for arguing balls and strikes with the bases loaded for the final out of the third inning. The five Cleveland batters who have faced the 23-year old Hutchison in the past have gone a combined 8-for-13 with one walk against him. The Indians are 3-3 in six games at Progressive Field in 2014. 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