Son of an African American father and a white English mother, James Blake began playing tennis at the age of 5. On the occasion of the US Open 2009 in New York, the Thomas Reynolds Collection was announced, a line of men's clothing, accessories and footwear developed by Blake together with Fila.

James collaborated for several months with the Fila designers to bring his experience as a player combined with the careful research of the name with which to baptize the collection.

After much deliberation, the choice of name fell on Thomas Reynolds, the name of the recently deceased father. 2012 is an important year for his private life, in June his first daughter was born while on November 15 he married Emily Snider, his partner since 2008.

He won 10 singles and 7 doubles ATP titles during his career. He also won the 2007 Davis Cup with the USA.

In August 2013, he announced his retirement from professional tennis at the end of the US Open. He plays his last match in singles against the Croatian Ivo Karlovic losing, in the first round, in the fifth set. In doubles he lost his last match on August 29, 2013, again in the first round paired with Jack Sock against Alexander Peya and Bruno Soares for 6-4, 2-6, 2-6.