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Former Harvard standout and ATP pro James Blake is one of the most prominent American tennis professionals. Currently ranked No. 96 on the ATP tour, Blake has won 10 professional titles and reached a career-high ranking of No. 4 in the world.

Blake played two years of college tennis at Harvard, and he finished his sophomore year at the top of the singles rankings and reached the singles final at the 1999 NCAA Championships.

NBC's Harry Cicma, who was the primary commentator for the 2012 and 2013 NCAA Championship broadcasts, got the chance to talk with Blake about college tennis, American tennis, and his charitable works.

Questions and Answers

Harry Cicma (HC): Tennis got you to Harvard, and it got you to Top 4 in the world. How has tennis helped you as a person?

James Blake (JB): Tennis has done so much for me. It has opened a million doors for me, and I'm very thankful for that.

Both my parents played. Tennis is a lifetime sport, and it was something fun for us to do on Sunday afternoons. It kept us together, and I kept improving. The better I got, the more doors opened for me, and it has helped me get to where I am now.

HC: You're helping with the USTA's initiative with Mt. Sinai Medical Center. Could you tell me about that?

JB: Mt. Sinai is promoting health and wellness, and the USTA has always taken a big part of that. They've tried to get kids playing, and they've done a lot with the Let's Play initiative.

Playing tennis helps kids get healthy, and it encourages them to participate in a sport that they can play their whole lives. It's a great partnership.

HC: You and your brother, Thomas, got involved with tennis in New York City at a young age. When you see so many young kids out here playing 10-and-under tennis, like you and your brother did, what does that tell you about the youth getting into tennis?

JB: It's really inspiring - it shows me that the future of tennis is still in good hands. Kids are really excited about playing. Whether it's on a shorter court with 10-and-under tennis - or on a normal court - kids are just excited. It shows me that there are going to be a lot of great players for years to come.

HC: What are your thoughts on American tennis? At the NCAA Championships, there were two American women in the singles finals, and Jarmere Jenkins from Virginia was in the men's final. What do you think about the USTA and American tennis?

JB: It's a good sign. I don't know where the USTA stands on kids going to college, but I think it's a great way for them to get a team atmosphere and to improve their game before they're ready to go pro.

I know that college tennis helped me. I know I wouldn't have had the same career if I hadn't gone to college for two years. And John Isner is out there having success after going to college, so I think we're in good hands having Americans at the top level in NCAAs.

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About Harry Cicma

When it comes to college tennis, Harry Cicma is your man. Cicma covers tennis and other athletic stories for NBC Sports, writing articles and producing video segments.

He is co-founder and host of World Tennis a weekly tennis show on NESN, and host of of Tennis Live Radio's College Corner.

Cicma competed as a junior in USTA/New England and went on to play college tennis at Rutgers University. As a professional, Cicma competed at the ATP Newport tournament and the San Jose Siebel Open. He reached a career-high #75 in the ATP doubles team rankings and #1262 in the ATP Entry System.

In media, Cicma has run the gamut. He has worked for NBC, CBS, ABC, ESPN, FOX Sports Net, the Tennis Channel, and World Team Tennis. Cicma has announced NCAA sports as well as the US Open Tennis Championships on both TV and radio.