James Blake has been finally beaten…

…at the Challenger level. The 31-year-old American had won 23 consecutive Challenger matches in span of ten seasons (!), before lost tonight to fellow countryman Donald Young [122] 1-6, 6-1, 3-6 in Tallahassee. Blake [154] had won a Challenger at the end of 2001 in Knoxville, the following year triumphed in his another Challenger (Waikoloa) and began to play regularly at the main level. In a consequence of many troubles (personal and physical) slipped considerably in the ATP ranking in 2005 and played two clay-court Challengers in the United States to rebuild his form, winning both (Tunica Resorts, Forest Hills). He hasn’t played any Challenger since then (almost six years), until this week.