James Blake suffers spinal, head injuries after crashing into a net post.
By KEITH NIEBUHR
Published May 8, 2004
Tampa's James Blake met the pope Wednesday.
A day later he met the post. Head-on.
Blake was hospitalized Thursday with head and spine injuries after a freakish accident in Rome in which he slammed into the net post while chasing a drop shot during practice.
He is expected to be out two to five weeks, but doctors told Blake on Friday there was no neurological damage.
"I'm still a little sore but feeling much better," Blake said in a release from the ATP Tour. "I am doing fine and was pleased to hear positive news (Friday) from the doctors who are treating me here in Rome. ... All reports indicate that I will be back on the court soon."
Blake, ranked No.43 in the world, withdrew from next week's Hamburg Masters and his status is uncertain for the May24-June6 French Open, the year's second major championship.
He lost to Jiri Novak on Tuesday in the first round of the Italian Open, but stayed in town to practice and visit with the pope. Blake and several other players, including Americans Robby Ginepri and Bob Bryan, attended a morning mass Wednesday at the Vatican and had a private audience with Pope John Paul II afterward.
"I feel pretty lucky," Blake said. "It's probably a good thing I went to see the pope."
Blake, 24, plans to return to United States in the next few days to see his personal doctors.
Blake, often a member of the U.S. Davis Cup team, is 13-9 this season in singles and 13-2 in doubles with three titles. He has $195,353 in season earnings.
- Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
