Melissa Bailey Photo
Before the crowds filed in to the Pilot Pen tournament Friday, home-state favorite James Blake grabbed center court and snuck in a few volleys and serves.
Blake, a two-time Pilot Pen champ from Fairfield, is headlining the annual tennis tournament this year after a two-year hiatus. His face is emblazoned on billboards and ads promoting the event. In the stands at the Connecticut Tennis Center in Westville, a section of seats is saved just for his fans, the J‑Block, a rowdy group of hometown hooligans with the motto, “Fire It Up One Time, Bam!”
On Friday at 11 a.m., just one hour after the tennis tournament began, the only sounds on the Grandstand tennis court were the occasional grunt and the squeak of Blake’s sneakers as he skidded for a hard-to-reach backhand.
“Oh no!” Blake called out as one of his baseline shots flew out of bounds.
Melissa Bailey Photo
He was facing off against a German player named Daniel Brands (pictured). The games didn’t count for anything: The points weren’t noted on the scoreboards, and Blake’s coach, Kelly Jones, even lost track of the score. The two met up to get in some practice before the competition begins.
Blake’s first match is set for Monday, not before 4:30 p.m.
Blake, who’s 30 and 6’1’‘, showed up in a red Fila T‑shirt, holding a racket with characteristic purple grip. His opponent, who’s four inches taller and 23 years old, proved to be a formidable warm-up partner. Blake, who was once ranked fourth in the world, is now ranked 107th. Brands is ranked 74th.
They hit ground strokes and volleys for about half an hour, with a friendly tone.
“Sorry!” Blake called out a couple of times when he hit the ball out.
Click on the play arrow to watch a few shots.
Then the two played a baseline game to 11. That means the ball is fed in through a forehand stroke instead of an overhead serve. In absence of ball boys, their coaches picked up stray balls and tossed them into play.
As they played, tournament director Anne Worcester slipped onto the front row of the stadium seats, which were almost entirely empty, save for a reporter and three fans. She clapped her hands when Blake scored a sideline winner.
“Hey, how are you?” asked Blake.
“Welcome!” called out Worcester to the returning star.
Blake played the tournament in 2005, 2006 and 2007, then took two years off. His presence is always a big draw.
“I’ll give you a hug when you shower!” she offered, drawing a laugh.
Soon after their exchange, Blake’s coach lost track of the score.
“7 – 6 to you,” announced Brands. Brands went on to snag the next point, slipping by Blake at the net and earning a compliment.
“That’s too good,” Blake said.
Brands took the game 11 to 8.
Melissa Bailey Photo
They pulled out cold bottles of Evian and rested in canvas chairs. Worcester (pictured) went over to say hello. She went ahead and gave Blake a hug. He asked how the tournament was coming together. She said she was still finalizing whom to give wildcards to, after some players, including Ana Ivanovic and Sam Querrey, pulled out at the last minute.
Blake’s practice session was not announced ahead of time. Worcester said after she saw him playing there, she sent out an email to the staff at guest services so they could let people know. By the time the practice wrapped up shortly after noon, a few fans had trickled in to the sunny stadium, one holding a tennis ball in hopes of an autograph.
Worcester said stumbling across a practice session can be the best part.
“It’s such a good way to see a player,” she said.
The tournament, which includes both women and men, runs Aug. 20 to 28 at the Connecticut Tennis Center. Click here for a schedule.
On Friday and Saturday, tickets are $5 for 10 hours of qualifying matches — and who knows, maybe another ad-hoc matchup in the Grandstand.