Blake Signs With Fila

As Jason informed us yesterday in Live Chatterbox:

James Blake is doing some remodeling Down Under.

Blake has signed with Fila and will wear Fila apparel and shoes at next week's Australian Open.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Fila will formally announce more details on the pact shortly. It is believed it could include a Blake-inspired line.

The 10th-ranked Blake had spent his entire professional career with Nike, but took the court in Melbourne yesterday clad in Fila clothes and shoes.

Blake joins a Fila roster that includes Svetlana Kuznetsova, Anna Chakvetadze, Agnes Szavay, Janko Tipsarevic, Dmitry Tursunov and former US National finalist and longtime ESPN voice of tennis Cliff Drysdale. He is one of Fila's highest-profile players since former World No. 1 Kim Clijsters retired. Blake is the most prominent American player the Italian brand has signed since former World No. 1 Jennifer Capriati.