James Blake has been on the men's top 10 tennis list many times. He is blessed with talent and is a workhorse. I love watching him play. 

His backhand return of serve comes to mind as one of the best in the game. He has the heart of a champion, but I think there is one thing missing to take him to the next level - The X Factor.

He comes across as the same type of Mr Nice Guy as Roger Federer and Stefan Edberg. But what do the top players have that James does not? 

'. . . he needs to market himself with fear that is larger than life'


Federer has the respect and fear of every single player on the tour. Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are the same. Andy Roddick has his blistering serve, and what Blake needs to do is to create some fear into his opponents. 

He should take a page out of Andre Agassi's book and run off the court to change ends after breaking serve; or holding serve for that matter. I don't see the energy and tenacity that creates fear in his opponent. 

I've seen him get angry at line judges on questionable calls. I've seen him beat his chest and clutch his fists after making spectacular shots. Now he needs to market himself with fear that is larger than life. 

I am not saying he needs to be a bad-boy, because that is not his personality. But I am saying he should create momentum and fear into his opponents by keeping his energy up and the pressure on his opponent so they crumble at the mere presence of such a giant. 

At the end of the day he always shakes his opponent's hand and smiles. What I don't see are the young upstarts afraid to take shots at him. I don't see their fear in playing him. 

I see them looking at Blake as an opportunity to raise their ranking. No doubt their ranking will rise if they beat the No.8 player in the world. 

When I see others, qualifiers etc, playing against Roddick, Federer, Nadal, and even Djokovic, I see them as players pressing, and missing shots they wouldn't normally miss because of the respect and fear for their elite opposition. That's what I want Blake to generate.

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