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Lets make this the official post...

Normally, the champion from last year kicks things off, but since Rafa has withdrawn, Fed will start it off...

Blake finds it easy to forget another Paris failure

2009-05-28 18:30:00

Paris, May 28 (DPA) James Blake says in the grand tennis scheme, the French Open is not that huge for his hardcourt-bred countrymen.

'For the Americans, a lot of times this isn't our main goal of the year,' said the 29-year-old who joined the exit queues in the first round at Roland Garros this week. 'Ours is generally Wimbledon and the US Open.'

And he says that focussing on Roland Garros could actually backfire for his compatriots.

'If we were to try to prepare completely for the French Open, we would be giving away some of our advantage at the Wimbledon and the US Open. That's where we excel.

'We'd rather, I think, prepare best for what our strengths are. I think Andy (Roddick) has proved that by winning the US Open and getting to the finals of Wimbledon a bunch of times (twice).'

Blake now has his thoughts on Roddick's chances on the clay of Paris as the only US man still in the current mix.

'I actually think he's still got a great chance to do well here. He's playing well. I was practicing with him earlier in the week, and I see his chances here,' said Blake.