NEW YORK – James Blake lost in doubles Thursday in the last match of his tennis career.
The American announced Monday that the U.S. Open would be his final tournament. He was eliminated in singles in the first round just past midnight Thursday morning, falling in a fifth-set tiebreaker to Ivo Karlovic.
About nine hours later, Blake and fellow American Jack Sock lost 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 in the opening round in doubles to second-seeded Bruno Soares and Alexander Peya.
Blake and Sock got in on a wild card.
Blake had been ranked as high as No. 4 in the world in his career and reached three Grand Slam quarterfinals.
The 20-year-old Sock is still alive in singles, reaching the third round with a 7-6 (3), 1-6, 7-5, 6-2 win over qualifier Maximo Gonzalez earlier Thursday. He'll next face 18th-seeded Janko Tipsarevic.
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