Blake is one of three African-Americans to represent the U.S. in Davis Cup action, joining Malivai Washington and late Arthur Ashe. First round action takes place almost 10 years to the date of Ashe passing away.

Blake's Davis Cup overall record is 7-1 including a 3-0 record in doubles. This will be Blake's third tour of duty on the Davis Cup, but his role has changed this time. He's gone from rookie to team leader in a matter two years, but the 23 year-old Blake is excited about his new role, and the fresh faces on the team.

Q1: You've done tremendously in Davis Cup. What about Davis Cup brings that out in you?

JAMES BLAKE: I love Davis Cup. I love the atmosphere of having a biased crowd, whether they are for you or against you it. It makes it more of a sporting event that I've seen in person and on TV. You have a home team and an away team. You have a biased crowd that's going to be cheering for you or against you. That to me is exciting. It's just a different atmosphere that's very exciting to me, having that kind of a crowd; having a coach on the court I think always helps.

Q2: How does the team aspect of Davis Cup come into play for you?

JAMES BLAKE: Being a part of a team has always excited me. I loved playing college tennis. It's just that you have a little more of a sense of a reason and you're always fighting your hardest because you know you've got a team that's worked just as hard as you to get into that situation and you never want to let down your team and you always want to do your best for the team.

Q3: You and Andy Roddick have stepped up to lead the new wave in Davis Cup. What can you tell us about the next group of Davis Cup players and their potential?

JAMES BLAKE: I think they have a lot of potential. Taylor has an enormous serve. He's really improved his game the last year or two just in learning kind of how to use his assets and play smart tennis, which is the biggest difference I think in the last few years with him. He's always had the talent. And then there's Mardy, he's one of my best friends. He's a great guy, and also has had the talent I definitely think he's got a whole lot of talent to move to the forefront. Bobby just won the challenger last week in Hawaii. He's got a lot of talent, great hand/eye coordination. Great returns; he steps in and he'll make you look like a filly at times by taking your serves so early.

Q4: Without Andy being out there, how do you feel about your chances against Croatia?

JAMES BLAKE: I feel like we have a good chance. We are a young team and we are also pretty talented. Taylor plays very, very good singles especially indoors if it's a really fast surface. His serve is one of the fastest in the game. I feel comfortable putting him out there in singles if he's healthy. And doubles, Mardy and I have had success in Davis Cups. We have a good chance. A little tougher without Andy, but that will make it fun.

Q5: How does it feel to be put in the position of being the most experienced man on the Davis Cup team?

JAMES BLAKE: It's a little weird since I definitely feel like I'm still the one learning. Just last year, I was the brand new kid and the rookie on the team and now I'm considered the veteran. Mardy and I have played doubles together in one Davis Cup, so he's at least been there as well. The other guys are hopefully going to learn, as well. We are very, very fortunate to have Patrick McEnroe and Jim (Courier) to help us out, and I'm sure they will do their jobs.

Q6: On the anniversary of Arthur Ashe's passing, what has his legacy meant for you personally?

JAMES BLAKE: I think he's obviously been a role model to me, but I think he could be a role model to just about anyone. Everyone who speaks of him, everyone who met him talks about the fact that he was a great person, a great humanitarian, and social activist. He used everything positive that came into his life to help others. Even when he was stricken with a deadly disease, he used that to help others who were in an even more unfortunate situation, instead of saying "why me" and taking a lot sympathy. He used that to help others, which is something I think everyone could learn from and probably why everyone speaks volumes about how great of a person he was and will always be remembered as.

Q7: Do you think the doors that have opened for you were that much more easier from the work that Ashe did?

JAMES BLAKE: I think being African American; I owe him a great debt of gratitude for being able to deal with the pressures and situations. What I go through now and what anyone goes through are much easier thanks to what he did. It took a great man and a great athlete like him to do that, and we are so fortunate today to have had him as that role model, as that person to do that, to really break the color barrier in tennis and be such a great champion.

Q8: Do you think Ashe would be proud of the strides made by African American players such as yourself and the Williams sisters?

JAMES BLAKE: I think he'd be proud of knowing how much we've helped in the communities and the fact that we do care about that. I've seen so much effects by the Williams sisters, just being an observer and a fan before I came on Tour, just to see so many young girls that idolize the Williams sisters, especially since there are not as many female sports that are publicized as they are in the men's. Now, if I could ever have that kind of effect on young males, to get them watching tennis and involved in tennis and just doing something constructive, as opposed to just being out on the street kind of getting into trouble, that's my main goal.

Q9: Will you be involved in promoting any Black History Month as well as the sport of tennis this month?

JAMES BLAKE: There's an auction in the Harlem Junior Tennis Program that I've donated a lot of merchandise to, and IMG has also helped in donating a lot of things and that's hopefully going to help out. It's an armory and they support kids playing tennis and as well as getting fed off the street. It's a totally volunteer basis. They just have to bring their report card in and show they are doing well in school and they are allowed to play there.

Q10: How much more impressive is it that well being one of the best tennis players out there, Ashe still was able to do so many more things off the court?

JAMES BLAKE: It is amazing. You know, the climates were totally different then. He had so many issues; it was amazing that he was able to help so much on many different issues is incredible, as well as at the same time being a top-notch athletes. I feel like we do still have an opportunity and with all the time we've been afforded, I feel like we've been given a great opportunity to help out others, as well.

Q11: Have you thought of the possibility that if Ashe hadn't done the things he did and been an example; you wouldn't be playing tennis or have the opportunities you do?

JAMES BLAKE: Yeah, that definitely does make sense, because he inspired a whole generation of tennis players. I feel like he also inspired somebody like Mal Washington. If it wasn't for Washington growing up, there's another possibility I would not have been excited about tennis. Now seeing that there's a next generation, kind of looking around that might be me right now as the African American in tennis, and to think that maybe there's some kids out there or someone who never thought about tennis now might be thinking about tennis because they see me playing it. It's definitely something I take seriously and I want to be the best role model possible.