Page 30 - Tennis Magazine April 2019
P. 30
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In his first year as the Miami Open’s tournament director, Blake
invited the boys’ and girls’ tennis teams from Marjory Stoneman
Douglas High School, in Parkland, FL, to show support and benefit
survivors of the shooting that had occurred just a month earlier.
down again in the parking lot of a wondered what [the facility] would be that Serena and Venus Williams, Novak
football arena downtown. After years like, but they’ve seen the renderings, Djokovic, Nadal and Federer can still
of trying, and failing, to get approval to and I think they understand how be potential drawing cards in Miami.
renovate and expand in Crandon Park, beautiful it can be.” “I think it’s great, because we’re
the tournament finally found room If advance ticket sales are an witnessing history,” Blake says of the
across the bay at Hard Rock Stadium, indication, the same seems to be true continued dominance of these veter-
home of the Miami Dolphins. of fans. By January, sales were up 22 ans. “I’m also partial, because I played
In Dolphins owner and real estate percent over the same time in 2018. against them and with them, and I
mogul Stephen Ross, it also found a “You don’t normally associate think they’re incredible human beings.
patron who could conceivably match tennis with football, but sports fans Whether it’s Alexander Zverev or Felix
the deep-pocketed commitment that are sports fans, and I think we’ve done Auger-Aliassime who makes a big
a good job tapping into move, I’m not worried about the next
“Our diversity of styles the Dolphins base,” generation. The transition will come.”
Blake says about the
and talents can be a reaction. “It will also be As for Blake’s own role in the sport’s
strength,” Blake says of easier for people north future, he’s not ready to jump into
of the city, in Broward coaching yet—“To do it right, you’ve
U.S. tennis, “if we help County and Palm got to be there 30 weeks, and I have a
Beach, to come down.” 6-year-old and a 4-year-old at home,”
players and coaches.” The tournament’s he says. But he believes an increased
move will be another emphasis on coaching is the key to any
Larry Ellison has brought to the learning experience for Blake. improvement in U.S. tennis fortunes.
Miami Open’s chief rival, the BNP “I’ve got a new appreciation for what “It’s such a broad country, we can’t
Paribas Open in Indian Wells. Ross will goes into running a tournament,” he have a top-down approach. We need to
oversee construction of a 13,800-seat says. “Just putting together the sched- encourage coaches to work their own
temporary stadium court inside the ule each day. As a player, you’re like, way,” Blake says. “We need to support
arena, and a permanent facility outside ‘What’s the problem? Just put it out!’ them financially, but not everyone has
Hard Rock Stadium that will house 12 But there are so many intricacies to it, to play the game the same way.”
match courts and 18 practice courts. so many chefs in the kitchen.” As Blake approaches 40, he knows
While the transition may not be a Blake says there are “added he’s committed to tennis, in one form
natural one for players and longtime elements” he can bring to the event, or another, for the long haul. Whether
fans, Blake likes what he sees so far. through his knowledge of the players’ it’s on the court as a coach, or off the
“I’m excited about the move,” Blake perspective, and his relationships with court as an official or an activist voice,
says. “I think some players may have the game’s older stars. He’s pleased Blake’s platform will come.
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