Even if he does not achieve his dream, Blake still will most likely take the fall semester off to continue playing professionally as there are few major college tennis tournaments then. He will make a final decision about returning to Harvard in the spring.

As long as he accepts only expenses for compensation he can retain his amateur status. Blake does not foresee creating a rift with his teammates over a potential departure.

"This team is a great bunch of guys," Blake said. "There is not any other tennis team in the country that gets along better than we do."

Blake made his decision after a couple of months of careful consideration and consultation with many people, including his brother and Harvard Coach Dave Fish.

"Obviously, we want what is best for James," Fish said. "This was his decision."

Tom said he told James of his own experience on the pro circuit. He had played in some professional tournaments over past summers as well. James, though, has invitations to more prestigious events and is considered a much stronger pro prospect than his older brother.

"I tried to tell him a little bit of what pro tennis is like," Tom Blake said. "I told him how tough it is."

While James listened to the advice of his brother, he tried to disassociate the emotional ties of Tom graduating.

"Not having my brother on the team is too bad," Blake said. "Eventually you have to get out of this place. I understand that, and it didn't factor in."

Only recently did he share his intentions with his teammates. His fellow tennis players have also been very supportive of his decision, even if it meant losing a potential star.

"Obviously it will be a loss," junior Kunj Majmudar said. "But we all knew he would get some tournament wildcards, and we all hope he succeeds."

Blake's departure would place another hole in the Harvard tennis roster. James and Tom are both among the top six players in the country.

In addition to them, the team also graduates co-captain Philip Tseng.

"Not having Blake out there will be tough," Majmudar said. "It's like losing another senior. It will be hard to maintain the same level of play."

The tennis team still has a talented core group of players. Majmudar and sophomore John Doran each had very good seasons, and freshman Scott Clark showed some promise.

Still, though these players would provide some very good competition for James, they could not match the level of the professional circuit.

"There are some real good players in this region," Blake said of his fellow players. "I'd get good practice with Kunj and John Doran, and there are other players in Boston."

"But an opportunity has been given to me that I can't pass up. I have to do what is best for me at this part of my life."

Everyone knew the Blake brothers had to leave Harvard sometime. They just were not suppose to reunite so quickly.