From Harlem to the U.S. Open, Blake continues to polish image

James Blake beat Sargis Sargsian to reach the third round again.
NEW YORK (AP) -- When he was a kid, living nearby and taking tennis lessons in Harlem, James Blake would go to the U.S. Open as a fan. He'd get in with tickets for the cheap seats, then look for a chance to sneak down to court-side for a closer look.
These days, Blake is front and center. He's featured in magazine fashion spreads, gets props from the Olsen twins at MTV's Video Music Awards -- oh, yeah, and he's bolstering his status as part of a crop of rising American stars.
Coming up with some spectacular shots at key moments against a player he's known for a decade, Blake held on to beat 1995 NCAA champion Sargis Sargsian 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (6) Friday to reach the Open's third round for a second straight year.
He joined fellow up-and-comers Taylor Dent and Robby Ginepri in the round of 32, while Andy Roddick had a chance to get there with a victory later Friday.
Looking better
Along with Mardy Fish, who was seeded 24th but upset Thursday, they're looking more and more capable of succeeding Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, et al.
"Before, it might have been a little bit of hype," said Blake, ranked 35th. "Now I feel we're showing people. We're doing our best. We really care about Davis Cup. We're starting to make some waves at big tournaments. We're starting to make things happen."
That truly would be an understatement if the 23-year-old Blake claims another victory at the National Tennis Center: His next opponent is Wimbledon champion Roger Federer. The No. 2-seeded Federer defeated Jean-Rene Lisnard 6-1, 6-2, 6-0.
Loss to Hewitt
Blake lost to 2001 champion Lleyton Hewitt at the past two Opens, and has been to the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament only once.
"Hometown kid. They could rig a draw for me or something. I guess they didn't get around to that," Blake said, smiling. "I'm going to go down swinging. I'm going to go for everything. There's no reason why I should feel like if I play well, I'm definitely going to lose. He's human, he's going to make mistakes."
Federer didn't err too often Friday -- or in last month's Wimbledon final, when he artfully took apart Mark Philippoussis' game in straight sets.
Philippoussis, also a finalist at the 1998 Open, beat Anthony Dupuis 6-2, 6-3, 6-4. His predecessor as runner-up at the All England Club, No. 13 David Nalbandian, weathered a tougher challenge but topped Jarkko Nieminen 5-7, 6-3, 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (3).
More winners
Other winners Friday: No. 8 Rainer Schuettler; No. 10 Jiri Novak, who beat Jan-Michael Gambill of the United States in straight sets; No. 12 Sjeng Schalken; Hewitt's Wimbledon conqueror Ivo Karlovic; and No. 22 Younes El Aynaoui. Seeded players exiting included No. 19 Agustin Calleri, No. 25 Albert Costa, No. 9 Daniela Hantuchova and No. 13 Vera Zvonareva, the Russian teen who surprised Venus Williams at the French Open.
No. 17 Meghann Shaughnessy beat Zvonareva 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 and gets No. 1-ranked Kim Clijsters in the fourth round. Hantuchova lost 6-2, 6-4 to Tamarine Tanasugarn, who raised a fist, shrieked with joy and jogged to the net to shake hands after Hantuchova sent a forehand long to make it 5-3 in the second set. Tamarine eventually realized her victory celebration was premature, laughing sheepishly when a replay was shown in the stadium.
Clisters, 1998 Open champion Lindsay Davenport, No. 5 Amelie Mauresmo and French Open semifinalist Nadia Petrova won in straight sets. Davenport, fighting a left foot injury, faces Petrova for a quarterfinal berth.
"This week is just what I needed to give myself some confidence and know that I played well, my foot's feeling good, save some energy for the second week," said Davenport, the only past women's champion here. "The tough rounds begin now."