Full US Open Match Video: Agassi vs. Blake, 2005

With the current suspension of the ATP and WTA Tours, we are opening up our US Open vault to bring you full match videos of classic encounters through the years in New York.

Watch on YouTube: Andre Agassi vs. James Blake, 2005 US Open quarterfinals

“I wasn’t the winner; tennis was.”

That’s what eight-time Grand Slam champion Andre Agassi said after his 2005 US Open quarterfinal match against James Blake, which tells you almost all you need to know. Almost.

The match itself was a classic, but it’s important to understand the setup. Agassi was 35 at the time, and this was his 13th trip to the quarters at the US Open (he won it twice). Blake, on the other hand, was in the midst of his best US Open run and an amazing career rebirth that earned him Comeback Player of the Year honors in 2005.

The previous year was a nightmare for the American. In May 2004, Blake was practicing on a clay court in Rome. He slipped on the clay and collided with the net post, breaking his neck. Later that year, his father died.

There was no nerve damage in his vertebrae, so Blake was able to play again, but he struggled mightily. Ranked as high as world No. 22 before his injury, Blake dropped to No. 210 by April 2005. He started playing some lower-level tournaments in an attempt to gain some momentum, and it worked.

Blake received a wild-card entry into the US Open. When he arrived in Flushing Meadows, everything fell into place. He defeated three ranked opponents through the first four rounds—including a stunning upset of No. 2 seed Rafael Nadal. That set up the all-American quarterfinal against Agassi.

Blake is 10 years younger than Agassi, and it showed early in the match. Blake took the first two sets and was up a break in the third. That’s when Agassi stormed back. He took the next two sets to force a decider, which, of course, went to a tiebreak. At 1:15 a.m., Agassi hit a forehand winner that ended the match, 3-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-6.

Despite the late hour, Arthur Ashe Stadium was still packed, as Blake came to the net to congratulate Agassi. "It couldn't have been more fun to lose," he told him.

Agassi defeated Robby Ginepri in the semis to reach his sixth US Open final, but he lost to Roger Federer. Blake continued his career resurgence, reaching the Open quarterfinals again in 2006 and climbing to a career-high No. 4 ranking later that year.

The complete match is now available to watch on the US Open YouTube channel.