James Blake had a disappointing Wimbledon, falling in the first round to then-No. 151 Robin Haase. But the American had been injured and slumping, so that hardly qualified as news. Still, Blake’s brief time at the All England Club was not without incident. Down a set and a break, he called out ex-player and current ESPN commentator Pam Shriver on the sidelines for speaking too loudly during points. Clearly upset, Blake stalked over, found where Shriver was broadcasting and confronted her, saying, “It’s amazing you played tennis because I can still hear you.” When Shriver continued to disrupt Blake’s attempt at a comeback, the enraged American asked, “You wanna act like I’m at fault?” Blake would lose in straight sets 6-2, 6-4, 6-4. Following the match, Shriver admitted that she was speaking too loudly and understood where Blake was coming from. But she didn’t exactly offer an apology. “We were just doing our jobs,” she said of her and Blake. “I’ve irritated people before.”
Originally published in the November/December 2010 issue of TENNIS.
2010 Aces & Faults
—Sock Hopping: Sock goes from high school to pros
—After the Hype, Miller Doesn't Bode Well: Skier tries tennis, again
—Booted: The story of Serena's injured foot
—Match of the Year: The Isner-Mahut Wimbledon epic
—Unwelcome Milestones: American mens' struggles
—Gone...And Back Again: Querrey's quick turnaround
—Swimming the Channel: Rafa does the clay-grass double
—Biggest Disappointment: Dinara Safina
—All in a Day's Work: Blake's beef with Shriver
—Coach of the Year: Hernan Gumy
—Seizing the Clay: Schiavone's unlikely title run
—Struck Out: Soderling ends Federer's semifinal streak
—Comeback, Interrupted: Henin's return cut short
—Wayne's Shame: Odesnik caught with HGH
—Dee Worst, Judge Says: The world's worst player
—Most Improved: Sam Stosur
—Player of the Year: Rafael Nadal
—Newcomer of the Year: Larry Ellison