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SHANGHAI, China (AP) -- Two years ago, James Blake was sitting at home recovering from illness and loss and wondering if he'd ever play tennis again.
On Sunday, the 26-year-old American capped the best year of his career by reaching the final of the Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai, losing in straight sets to top-ranked Roger Federer 6-0, 6-3, 6-4.
"Obviously it's been an incredible year for me," said Blake, who entered the season-ending tournament ranked No. 8, but will finish the year at a career-high No. 4.
"Nothing I would have expected at the beginning of the year, especially nothing I would have expected two years ago. So I'm thrilled about that."
After the big year, he again recalled "a rough 2004." He fractured vertebrae in his neck, lost his father to cancer, and contracted Zoster, a shingles-like condition which affects hearing, sight and caused paralysis on one side of his face.
"It was probably three things that I would never wish on my worst enemy," Blake said.
"Those all made me question whether I'd ever play tennis again. So to be sitting on my couch dizzy and feeling like I couldn't get up to get anything to eat two years ago, to being No. 4 in the world now. ... It's something that I never thought was possible."
Now he's looking ahead, vowing to get stronger still in the offseason and take advantage of the better draws afforded by his higher ranking. He said age and experience have mellowed him and prepared him for the pressure.
"I'm proud to have done it," Blake said. "But I feel like I'm up to that now, being a little older, more mature, learning a lot from the guys who come before me, and I think I do have a chance at the Grand Slams."
When those chances come along, it's a pretty sure bet Federer will be on the other side of the net at some point.
In Shanghai, Blake had already beaten No. 2 Rafael Nadal and No. 3 Nikolay Davydenko in the round-robin phase and ousted defending champion David Nalbandian in the semifinals.
But on Sunday he faced a whole other level of competitor. The top-ranked Swiss standout steamrolled Blake in the first set on his way to claiming his third Masters Cup title.
Blake, now 0-6 in his career against Federer, upped his game in the second set, holding serve and picking up a chance for a break in the third game, when he rifled a deep return at the baseline. But Federer picked up the half-volley on his backhand side and turned it into a winner, leaving Blake shrugging at the net.
"Obviously, we're all chasing Roger. It's no secret. He's playing head and shoulders above the rest of us," said Blake, who only converted one of his 11 break chances.
Federer has been ranked No. 1 since Feb. 2, 2004, and already has enough points to ensure he'll break Jimmy Connors' record of 160 consecutive weeks atop the ATP rankings next year. Only two players (Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray) beat Federer this year.
He finished the year with 12 titles and 16 finals appearances in his 17 tournaments, setting a record with $8.34 million in prize money this season.
"To finish it off by winning the Masters Cup, the world championship so to speak, it's the perfect ending to an incredible season," Federer said. "There's not much more I could have done."
Second-ranked Jonas Bjorkman and Max Mirnyi won the doubles title 6-2, 6-4 over Mark Knowles and Daniel Nestor.
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