Blake buries fifth-set monkey

NEW YORK – James Blake finally managed to win a fifth set.

Blake ended his 0-for-9 drought in matches that go the distance, outlasting Fabrice Santoro 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 in the second round of the U.S. Open to win a 3-hour, 25-minute struggle that began Thursday evening and ended after midnight today.

“There used to be a big monkey right there,” Blake said, pointing to his back, “and now it’s gone. I got the monkey off my back. I got a five-setter.”

Santoro, at 34 the oldest man left in the tournament, faded down the stretch. He sat with an old-fashioned ice bag perched atop his head, then asked for a medical timeout in the middle of a game after double-faulting. Later, Santoro opted not to sit at all during changeovers, worried about cramping.

Blake’s U.S. Davis Cup teammate and poker pal, No. 5 Andy Roddick, advanced earlier in the day when his opponent quit with a knee injury, and defending women’s champion Maria Sharapova won in 51 minutes.

Then came as entertaining a match as this year’s Open has produced. Blake and Santoro applauded the other’s winners. Santoro playfully stuck out his tongue when Blake produced a great drop shot.

“I would love to play for two more hours,” a sweat-soaked Santoro said, “because I had a lot of fun tonight.”

Santoro’s claims to fame are his creativity – and his longevity. This is his 61st Grand Slam tournament. This is also his 16th U.S. Open, most among players in the draw.

The record for that? Jimmy Connors played in 22 U.S. Opens. One of those was in 1991, when he made a stirring run to the semifinals at age 39.

Roddick was 9, and thrilled to be on the scene as a birthday treat. He still comes to Flushing Meadows at birthday time, nowadays as a competitor – and with a certain James Scott Connors along as his coach.

Roddick turned 25 on Thursday and marked the occasion by reaching the U.S. Open’s third round, although not before losing the opening set to Argentina’s Jose Acasuso, whom eventually succumbed to injury.