Blake named as US Open wildcard

Blake has been short of fitness for the past 18 months

James Blake has been handed a wildcard entry to the US Open which begins in New York on 30 August.

The 30-year-old American, who was ranked fourth in the world less than four years ago, reached the quarter-finals of the event in 2005 and 2006.

Blake, now ranked 107th, is joined in the main draw by Australia's Carsten Ball and France's Guillaume Rufin.

Americans Ryan Sweeting, Donald Young, Jack Sock and Bradley Klahn have also been handed first-round spots.

A knee problem kept the injury plagued Blake out of action for almost three months earlier this year and he has lost in the opening round of five out of the six tournaments since making his comeback.

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He was knocked out of the Cincinnati Masters in just 45 minutes by Russian qualifier Denis Istomin on Tuesday and suggested he may be close to retirement after the 6-3 6-0 defeat.

But he has upset the formbook at the US Open before.

His run to the last eight in 2005 came after he was handed a place in the tournament in similar fashion and is the second-best finish by a wildcard at Flushing Meadows.

He secured victories over current world number one Rafael Nadal and Britain's Greg Rusedski before his campaign was ended in five sets against Andre Agassi.

Ball, 23, reached the quarter-finals of last year's US Open doubles tournament with countryman Chris Guccione while Rufin, 20, made the last 16 of the 2008 junior tournament.

An eighth and final wildcard entry will be given to the winner of a play-off competition to be held in Boca Raton, Florida on 18-20 August.

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