Page 29 - Tennis Magazine April 2019

With Mark Shapiro, Serena Williams and Stephen Ross, Blake is
helping the Miami Open put down roots in the concrete heart of the
city (left). As a Tennis Channel commentator, he remains connected to
the tour and its players (above, with Stan Wawrinka at Roland Garros).

In 2012, Blake married publicist if this happened to someone I loved. For Blake, activism is less a respon-
Emily Snider; the couple has two After that, it definitely changed my sibility than it is an opportunity.
children, Riley and Emma. Rather than perspective and made me a little bit “I don’t believe [athletes] bear a
take an office job in Manhattan, Blake more defiant.” responsibility that they have to do this
moved to sports-rich San Diego. Blake’s measured defiance led him in any way,” he told NPR. “But if some-
“It’s 70 degrees and sunny everyday, to sue the city of New York. Rather thing really does bring you to tears or
which isn’t a bad thing,” he says. than demand monetary damages, he gives you this kind of emotion, or it’s
But in 2015, Blake’s life took a succeeded in having the NYPD start a something that you feel is an injustice,
jarringly unexpected turn, one that fellowship that would fund investiga- and you need to speak out, then, yeah,
seemed as if it might push him in a tions into police misconduct. you have a platform.”
new direction entirely. While he was Two years later, Blake’s changed
on his cell phone ouside a Manhat- perspective would lead him to publish Last year, Blake’s mix of political
tan hotel during the US Open, Blake his second book, Ways of Grace: savvy and playing experience helped
was tackled by an undercover NYPD Stories of Activism, Adversity, and him step onto a new platform, when he
officer in a case of mistaken identity. How Sports Can Bring Us Together. was hired by the Miami Open to be its
The incident, which was captured on Taking his title from Arthur Ashe’s final tournament director. In the position,
a surveillance video that quickly went autobiography, Days of Grace, Blake Blake serves as a liaison between
viral, inspired this well-mannered fam- recounted the principled stands that players and officials, and gives the
ily man from the Connecticut suburbs athletes of the past have taken for event a familiar and popular public
to become what he described as an their political beliefs. face. But his first year on the job
“accidental activist” at age 35. Some began to wonder whether a wasn’t all smooth sailing. After losing
“I immediately called my wife. And career in politics might be in Blake’s to local favorite Monica Puig, top seed
that’s when I realized how big a deal future. His thoughtful, even-keel per- Caroline Wozniacki claimed that her
this was,” Blake told NPR of his reac- sona seemed like a natural extension family had received death threats
tion to the attack. “I’m an athlete. I’ve of Ashe’s, and even Barack Obama’s. from fans during the match. Blake’s
been taught to be the tough guy. And But Blake has seen enough of the response, that courtside staff and
I just wanted to sweep this under the politician’s life, and the indignities it security hadn’t been notified of any
rug. I just told her I was angry, but I’m entails, to realize it’s not for him. threats, wasn’t strong enough for
going to, you know, just go about my “I know some people have said I Wozniacki, who talked about boycot-
day. And she just said, ‘What if this would be a good fit for it,” Blake says ting the tournament next year.
happened to me?’” of the political world. “But I’ve been In 2019, Blake has faced a new
“And it immediately hit me. I started disillusioned. The rewards aren’t worth challenge: tearing up the Miami Open’s
actually tearing up a little bit and everything you have to do, everything 33-year-old roots on the idyllic island
AP thinking about what I would have done that happens to you and your family.” of Key Biscayne, and putting them

M A R / A P R 2 0 1 9 T E N N I S . C O M 2 7