Blake survives scare, sympathises with Federer's withdrawal

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2007

HALLE, Germany (AFP) — American James Blake, the third-seed at the Halle ATP tournament, had to survive a first-set scare to see off compatriot Sam Querrey on Monday and reach the second-round.

Blake, ranked ninth in the world, struggled in the first set against Querrey, ranked 59 places below him, and ended up 6-4 down and 4-4 in the second set.

The 27-year-old dug deep to win the second set 6-4 and then took the third 6-3 without too many problems to make the last 16.

But the week-long tournament - traditionally a grass-court warm-up for Wimbledon - got off to a bad start before a ball was served when world number one Roger Federer announced on Monday morning he was not returning to defend his title - something Blake had sympathy for.

"It's...