Black Tennis Pros

OEIRAS, Portugal -- James Blake recovered from a poor start to defeat Frederico Gil 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 Wednesday in the first round of the Estoril Open.

Blake struggled with his serve in the first set, while Gil won three of his service games at love and broke the American in the 11th game.

Blake improved in the second, but had to save a break point in the fifth game and looked uncomfortable in long baseline rallies. In the third, Blake broke the 68th-ranked Gil in the second game and withstood three break points chances in the next game.

"It was very tough," said the 16th-ranked Blake. "I just hung in, I've got a lot of experience, and things started going my way."

I thought that we were going to have to have alter call on this brother, we may still have to, but not today.