Skip to content

Blake battles through

Tuesday 19 July 2011 09:57, UK

Image: Blake: Fought back from a set down

James Blake has won through to the second round of the Atlanta Tennis Championships thanks to a victory over Ernests Gulbis.

Latest Tennis Stories

Atlanta joy for Blake after going a set down

Veteran James Blake won through to the second round of the Atlanta Tennis Championships with a comeback win against Ernests Gulbis. Blake had lost his only two previous meetings against the young Latvian and was immediately in trouble when he conceded the opening set. But the 31-year-old rallied, either side of a rain delay, to triumph 5-7 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 and set up a second-round meeting with compatriot and third seed John Isner. Fellow American Michael Russell also won through after he brushed aside teenage wildcard Donald Young 6-0 6-3, but the news was not so good for other local hopefuls Alex Bogomolov jnr and Ryan Sweeting. Seventh seed Bogomolov was bundled out by Luxembourg's Gilles Muller 6-3 7-6 (8-6), while Sweeting lost a hard-fought three-setter against India's eighth seed Somdev Devvarman 6-4 3-6 6-4. Japan's Tatsuma Ito claimed his first ATP Tour win by beating Michael Berrer 7-6 (8-6) 6-4.

Trending

Around Sky

Other Sports

Upgrade to Sky Sports or stream with NOW

Football

Get Sky Cinema