▁players <0x0A> </s> ▁Thomas ▁Bla ke , ▁Jr . ▁( born ▁December ▁ 2 9 , ▁ 1 9 7 6 ) ▁is ▁an ▁American ▁professional ▁tennis ▁player . ▁Bla ke ▁was ▁born ▁in ▁Y onk ers , ▁New ▁York ▁to ▁Thomas ▁Sr . ▁( who ▁is ▁African - American ) ▁and ▁Betty ▁( who ▁is ▁English ). ▁He ▁has ▁a ▁younger ▁brother , ▁James ▁Bla ke , ▁who ▁is ▁also ▁a ▁professional ▁tennis ▁player , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁three ▁half - bro thers , ▁Jason , ▁Howard ▁and ▁Christopher , ▁and ▁a ▁half - s ister , ▁Mich elle . ▁ ▁Bla ke ▁grew ▁up ▁in ▁Fair field , ▁Connecticut ▁and ▁attended ▁Fair field ▁War de ▁High ▁School . ▁A ▁gradu ate ▁of ▁Harvard ▁University , ▁he ▁became ▁a ▁professional ▁tennis ▁player ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 6 . ▁He ▁competed ▁in ▁the ▁US ▁Open ▁doubles ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 9 ▁and ▁ 2 0 0 2 , ▁both ▁times ▁partner ing ▁his ▁brother ▁James . ▁He ▁has ▁played ▁on ▁the ▁ATP ▁Tour , ▁appearing ▁in ▁such ▁tournament s ▁as ▁the ▁U . S . ▁Men ' s ▁Clay ▁Court ▁Championships ▁and ▁Leg g ▁Mason ▁Tennis ▁Classic , ▁both ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 3 . ▁He ▁currently ▁res ides ▁in ▁T ampa , ▁Florida . ▁ ▁Despite ▁being ▁close ▁to ▁the ▁top ▁ 2 0 0 ▁three ▁years ▁in ▁succession , ▁Bla ke ▁retired ▁from ▁professional ▁singles ▁tennis ▁in ▁October ▁ 2 0 0 5 . ▁He ▁is ▁still ▁playing