James Blake has been a professional tennis player since 1999. Up until 2004, he experienced a momentous rise in his stardom as he traveled the world and climbed the international tennis rankings. In 2002, he was named People's Sexiest Male Athlete.
In May of 2004, during a routine practice session on the court, Blake fractured his neck on the steel net post in a freak accident. During his recovery, he experienced another heart-wrenching setback. His father, the inspiration for his tennis career and his "superman," lost his battle with stomach cancer. Blake was then dealt another blow when he contracted zoster, a rare and painful virus that paralyzed half of his face and threatened to end his already jeopardized tennis career.
In his book, Breaking Back, Blake explains how he found hope and courage in the bleakest of times. With a constant focus on getting better, he not only forged his way back into the tennis spotlight with even greater success than before, but he also came back with a newfound perspective on life and giving back.
As Andre Agassi states, "We all encounter adversity in our lives. The real reflection of character is how we deal with it. The grace and dignity that James has shown during some very difficut times has been a source of great inspiration."
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