Free Advice to James Blake: Shut it down for 2010

“I definitely get angry at myself, frustrated at myself. … I’m a competitor. I’m going to want to win everything I play, whether it’s tennis, golf, cards, checkers, chess. Anything. I want to win. So if I’m not winning, I’m getting frustrated.”

That was American James Blake's reaction to losing in the first round in Washington D.C. Monday, but it could have been taken from any of his six first-round exits on tour this year. A knee injury cost Blake three months of his season this spring, and since returning, it’s been one disappointment after another for the former No. 4 player in the world.

Things seemed to be improving for Blake when he reached the third round at the Farmers Classic last weekend, but it looks like that mini-run was the exception, not the rule for the frustrated former American superstar. The quarterfinal appearance at Farmers saw Blake surge 12 spots in the ATP rankings to No. 105.

Hopes of cracking the Top 100 in time for the US Open fell apart fast on Monday when American qualifier Ryan Sweeting rallied past him 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. It was particularly painful given that Blake’s first-ever ATP title came at Washington back in 2002.

While Blake is likely looking at the rest of the US Open Series and the final Grand Slam of the year as an opportunity to regain his form, he should instead look at it from his couch.

James, it’s time to call 2010 a learning experience and shut it down for the rest of the year.

Blake makes no bones about being a headstrong, angry competitor who is his own biggest critic. It looks like those characteristics, along with a knee that might not be quite healed yet, are dragging down his confidence along with his ranking.

Blake started the year ranked 44th in the world, but  tumbled to 115th after falling in the first round at Wimbledon to 151st-ranked Robin Haase of the Netherlands. It was his lowest ranking since he sat 127th in May of 2005. He hasn’t won a singles title since 2007.

Shutting it down now has nothing but positives for Blake. He can make sure his knee is completely healed, and not worry about staying fresh for each subsequent tournament. The media and fans will stop buzzing about what’s wrong with him, and he can come back strong in 2011 under the radar with some much needed time in the therapy room and the practice court under his belt.

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