James Blake and guest stars serve up a smashing fundraiser

The stars aligned on Monday night as James Blake hosted his annual Serving for a Cure fundraising bash, held at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City. Spin friend Nick McCarvel wrote a sterling piece on the event at the New York Times Straight Sets blog.

Lending support were actor Justin Long (doubling as emcee of the event), musician Brett Dennen, and NHL player Brad Richards. (No high school pal John Mayer this year — the singer is recently recovering from vocal cord surgery.) Tennis types on hand included Ryan Sweeting, Patrick McEnroe, Jim Courier, and Blake's brother Thomas. Of special note was Blake's new fiancée, Emily Snider, who looked radiant with her flowing blonde locks and bright red dress. And, oh yes, James himself looked dapper and well-fitted in a classy trim suit and polished buckle shoes.

See JB's own full Facebook album of photos here. It's odd to see Blake dwarfed, but it happens. Also, not sure why Pat Mac was underdressed in denim, but it stuck out.

The event raised money for (deep breath now) the Thomas Blake Sr. Memorial Cancer Research Fund at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. The charity's cause and its name are inspired by Blake's late father. His mother, Betty, survives.

On the court this year, Blake proved rather resilient and durable. Stubborn and passionate. He raised his year-end ranking to No. 59 and surely hopes to play at least through the London Olympics and U.S. Open in 2012. After all, the life of a tennis pro is not shabby.

— Jonathan Scott (@jonscott9)