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I wanted to enter finance after retiring from tennis but helped grow Miami Open with move to $115m NFL stadium
A drastic change of career came into consideration for James Blake once he called time on professional tennis. The American, who idolised the legendary Arthur Ashe, won ten titles on the ATP Tour and achieved a career-high world ranking of fourth. Blake enjoyed a 14-year career on the tennis courtGetty He helped the US win their 32nd Davis Cup title in 2007AFP Blake was a Davis Cup winner with the United States in 2007 and also reached the semi-finals at the Beijing Olympics a year later. It was in 2013 when the New York-born star announced that he was retiring from tennis, before eyeing a switch to office life. “I took some time away, it ended up being about nine months, to get an idea of what my options were,” Blake said via Tennis.com. “I looked into finance and banks, and saw what it might be like to work in an office. “When you’ve been travelling non-stop for a decade, you think you might want to stay in one place for a while.” After taking nearly a year out, the former Harvard University student became fully aware that tennis was his overwhelming passion. “It’s pretty simple, I realised that I loved tennis, and I wanted to be part of it in any way I could,” Blake reflected. “I wanted to use whatever wisdom I’ve gained to help the sport.” Blake enjoyed a lengthy career on the tennis court after turning pro in 1999, with the Miami Open a tournament he played on 12 occasions. He reached the quarter-finals in 2006 and 2008, but was defeated by the iconic Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal respectively. The Miami Open was played in the picturesque Key Biscayne for over 30 yearsGetty But after Blake became tournament director, the landscape changedGetty Blake helped complete the move to the Hard Rock StadiumGetty A third round exit in 2013 marked his final appearance in the ATP 1000 event, but a new opportunity in Miami soon presented itself. Blake was appointed as the tournament director in 2018 with a focus on player relations, the media and broadcast. Tournament improvements and renovations are also on his to-do list, which he oversaw just a year into the job in Florida. The Miami Open was first played at Delray Beach and then Boca West before a long-term residency in Key Biscayne from 1987. Crandon Park hosted the action until an agreement was reached for the tournament to complete a move to the Hard Rock Stadium. Two-time Super Bowl champions Miami Dolphins have played their NFL home matches at the near-65,000 capacity stadium since 1987. Installation of tennis courts have helped bring the sport to life at the NFL venueGetty When the Miami Open rolls around, it’s clear what’s on offer at the timeGetty It cost around $115million to build and became a multi-purpose venue when the Miami Open completed its relocation. The tournament was first played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens in 2019 and can accommodate 13,800 tennis fans. Stadium Court at Crandon Park boasted the same capacity, but the new venue offered luxury seats and suites for spectators. There are 27 tennis courts in total with ten for competitive action, including another grandstand court, whilst the rest host practice. Blake was therefore in post when the Miami Open made its move, and he expressed his pride in an interview Miami Living Magazine last year. he remarked: “I think the move to the Hard Rock Stadium was the most formidable moment [since becoming director], uprooting a successful tournament with the intention of giving it the space to develop and grow was a necessary move for the future of the event. “It was unknown territory for me, and it has been a steep learning curve, but it’s a process I have enjoyed being a part of very much. “There are so many aspects to operating a tournament of this level and scale that, as a player, you don’t tend to give too much thought to, but I have loved learning about it. “I feel really comfortable in this role now as I head into my sixth year as Tournament Director and proud of everything our team has achieved so far.” In 2024, the Miami Open set a new record attendance of 395,683. Fans aren’t just welcomed by some of the world’s best tennis talents, with Blake keen for their experiences to be enhanced even further. “I wanted this to be an event where you didn’t necessarily have to be a diehard fan,” he said in a recent interview with Florida Tennis. Blake is proud with the move, one that has helped attract so many fansGetty “You can come out, get an acai bowl, a cheeseburger, a slice of pizza, hear some live music, and have a great time.” He added: “I wanted this to be a place where you can bring your friends, go on a date, or just come have fun. “And now I hear people say that’s exactly what it is.” The 2025 Miami Open is now underway and has followed two weeks of action at Indian Wells, the first event of t
A drastic change of career came into consideration for James Blake once he called time on professional tennis.
The American, who idolised the legendary Arthur Ashe, won ten titles on the ATP Tour and achieved a career-high world ranking of fourth.
Blake was a Davis Cup winner with the United States in 2007 and also reached the semi-finals at the Beijing Olympics a year later.
It was in 2013 when the New York-born star announced that he was retiring from tennis, before eyeing a switch to office life.
“I took some time away, it ended up being about nine months, to get an idea of what my options were,” Blake said via Tennis.com.
“I looked into finance and banks, and saw what it might be like to work in an office.
“When you’ve been travelling non-stop for a decade, you think you might want to stay in one place for a while.”
After taking nearly a year out, the former Harvard University student became fully aware that tennis was his overwhelming passion.
“It’s pretty simple, I realised that I loved tennis, and I wanted to be part of it in any way I could,” Blake reflected.
“I wanted to use whatever wisdom I’ve gained to help the sport.”
Blake enjoyed a lengthy career on the tennis court after turning pro in 1999, with the Miami Open a tournament he played on 12 occasions.
He reached the quarter-finals in 2006 and 2008, but was defeated by the iconic Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal respectively.
A third round exit in 2013 marked his final appearance in the ATP 1000 event, but a new opportunity in Miami soon presented itself.
Blake was appointed as the tournament director in 2018 with a focus on player relations, the media and broadcast.
Tournament improvements and renovations are also on his to-do list, which he oversaw just a year into the job in Florida.
The Miami Open was first played at Delray Beach and then Boca West before a long-term residency in Key Biscayne from 1987.
Crandon Park hosted the action until an agreement was reached for the tournament to complete a move to the Hard Rock Stadium.
Two-time Super Bowl champions Miami Dolphins have played their NFL home matches at the near-65,000 capacity stadium since 1987.
It cost around $115million to build and became a multi-purpose venue when the Miami Open completed its relocation.
The tournament was first played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens in 2019 and can accommodate 13,800 tennis fans.
Stadium Court at Crandon Park boasted the same capacity, but the new venue offered luxury seats and suites for spectators.
There are 27 tennis courts in total with ten for competitive action, including another grandstand court, whilst the rest host practice.
Blake was therefore in post when the Miami Open made its move, and he expressed his pride in an interview Miami Living Magazine last year.
he remarked: “I think the move to the Hard Rock Stadium was the most formidable moment [since becoming director], uprooting a successful tournament with the intention of giving it the space to develop and grow was a necessary move for the future of the event.
“It was unknown territory for me, and it has been a steep learning curve, but it’s a process I have enjoyed being a part of very much.
“There are so many aspects to operating a tournament of this level and scale that, as a player, you don’t tend to give too much thought to, but I have loved learning about it.
“I feel really comfortable in this role now as I head into my sixth year as Tournament Director and proud of everything our team has achieved so far.”
In 2024, the Miami Open set a new record attendance of 395,683.
Fans aren’t just welcomed by some of the world’s best tennis talents, with Blake keen for their experiences to be enhanced even further.
“I wanted this to be an event where you didn’t necessarily have to be a diehard fan,” he said in a recent interview with Florida Tennis.
“You can come out, get an acai bowl, a cheeseburger, a slice of pizza, hear some live music, and have a great time.”
He added: “I wanted this to be a place where you can bring your friends, go on a date, or just come have fun.
“And now I hear people say that’s exactly what it is.”
The 2025 Miami Open is now underway and has followed two weeks of action at Indian Wells, the first event of the ‘Sunshine Double’.
