“Most of my maturity and my different perspective comes from the last year,” Blake said, though he is also encouraged by his loyal cheering section, “The J-Block,” whose T-shirts and chants have become something of a sideshow on the grounds these days.

The J-Block will meet its match when Blake faces Agassi tomorrow. The crowd loves Blake, his youthful enthusiasm, his inspirational energy—but it also loves Agassi, the rebel-turned-family man and two-time U.S. Open champion.

And, said Blake, “it’s going to be a night match. People have a Heineken or two, and they get a little rambunctious.”

“[But] I’m never going to be angry with a New York crowd,” he added, laughing.

It’s a win-win situation, really. If he defeats Agassi, Blake will become the first African-American to reach the semifinals of the U.S. Open. In addition, on the most basic of levels, Blake will have won by his own skills and not conservative, defensive tactics.

“I want to go out there and find out how good I am playing my own game,” he said.

And Should he lose? He’ll tip his cap and go home proud. Losing to Andre Agassi in the U.S. Open quarterfinals—well, things could certainly be worse.

—Staff writer Rebecca A. Seesel can be reached at seesel@fas.harvard.edu.