SHANGHAI, China (AP) -- Two years ago, James Blake was sitting at home recovering from illness and loss and wondering if he'd ever play tennis again.
On Sunday, the 26-year-old American capped the best year of his career by reaching the final of the Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai, losing in straight sets to top-ranked Roger Federer 6-0, 6-3, 6-4.
"Obviously it's been an incredible year for me," said Blake, who entered the season-ending tournament ranked No. 8, but will finish the year at a career-high No. 4.
"Nothing I would have expected at the beginning of the year, especially nothing I would have expected two years ago. So I'm thrilled about that."
After the big year, he again recalled "a rough 2004." He fractured vertebrae in his neck, lost his father to cancer, and contracted Zoster, a shingles-like condition which affects hearing, sight and caused paralysis on one side of his face.
"Those all made me question whether I'd ever play tennis again. So to be sitting on my couch dizzy and feeling like I couldn't get up to get anything to eat two years ago, to being No. 4 in the world now. ... It's something that I never thought was possible."
Now he's looking ahead, vowing to get stronger still in the offseason and take advantage of the better draws afforded by his higher ranking. He said age and experience have mellowed him and prepared him for the pressure.
"I'm proud to have done it," Blake said. "But I feel like I'm up to that now, being a little older, more mature, learning a lot from the guys who come before me, and I think I do have a chance at the Grand Slams."
When those chances come along, it's a pretty sure bet Federer will be on the other side of the net at some point.
