Blake Strode facts for kids
| Country (sports) |  United States |
|---|---|
| Residence | Cary, North Carolina, USA |
| Born | July 9, 1987 St. Louis, Missouri, USA |
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) |
| Turned pro | 2009 |
| Plays | Right-handed |
| College | University of Arkansas Razorbacks |
| Prize money | $60,116 |
| Official website | bladestrodetennis.com |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 0–1 |
| Career titles | 0 |
| Highest ranking | No. 311 (May 7, 2012) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| US Open | Q2 (2010, 2011) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 0–0 |
| Career titles | 0 |
| Highest ranking | No. 571 (July 16, 2012) |
Blake Strode was born on July 9, 1987, in St. Louis, Missouri. He is an American lawyer who works to protect people's basic rights. He is currently the leader of a group called ArchCity Defenders. Before becoming a lawyer, Blake Strode was a professional tennis player.
Growing Up and School
Blake Strode grew up in several towns in North St. Louis County, Missouri. These towns included Charlack, Berkeley, and Bridgeton. He was a very good student. In 2005, he graduated at the top of his class from Pattonville High School.
He went to the University of Arkansas. There, he studied Spanish and economics. He was also an amazing tennis player for the school's team, the Razorbacks. He was even named an All-American for his tennis skills.
In 2009, Blake Strode was accepted into Harvard Law School. He decided to wait three years before starting law school. This allowed him to focus on his professional tennis career.
While at Harvard, he joined a student group. This group helped people who were losing their homes. They taught them about their legal rights. He also worked at the U.S. Department of Justice. He helped with cases about voting rights. He finished law school in 2015. This was a time when many important cases about fairness and justice were happening.
Tennis Career
Blake Strode was a top tennis player in high school. He won the Missouri state singles championship in 2005. In 2009, he made it to the semifinals of the NCAA singles championship. This earned him the special title of NCAA All-American. He also received an award for his leadership and good sportsmanship in tennis. It was called the Arthur Ashe award.
He played in the qualifying rounds for the U.S. Open in 2010. He also competed in the qualifying rounds for the 2012 SAP Open in 2012. There, he won against two players. He then lost in the final qualifying round. However, a top player had to drop out due to an injury. This allowed Blake Strode to enter the main part of the tournament. He lost in the second round of that event.
Working for Justice
In 2015, Blake Strode joined ArchCity Defenders. This is a nonprofit law firm that helps people. He started with a special two-year program. In this program, he worked on housing issues. He helped people understand their rights related to their homes.
Later, he became the leader of the firm's litigation department. This part of the firm handles lawsuits. In January 2018, when he was 30 years old, Blake Strode became the new executive director of ArchCity Defenders. This means he leads the entire organization.
See also
