Tennis pro and New York native James Blake might feel right at home in the city for the U.S. Open, but when he was asked to host one of the pre-U.S. Open festivities, the BNP Paribas Taste of Tennis alongside celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein, it was a different story. Blake has never actually used his own kitchen — ever.

“I feel like it’s so easy to order in or go out and I’m so used to going out on the road that it comes naturally to me,” says Blake, who got a mini-lesson from Bernstein at the event. “I never really learned how to cook.”

Page 2 sat down with Blake to talk about other non-cooking related things such as what he really thinks about women grunting in tennis, his superstitions and the other James Blake — the one who’s getting all the Google alerts.

Did you know there is a musician named James Blake?

“I did! A couple friends of mine Google alert my name and he’s getting very popular and they say, ‘We’re tired of getting these alerts every day and it’s not you. It’s some guy in England.’ He’s definitely up and coming. We’ll have to meet, and one of us might have to change it to Jim so it stops the confusion.”

I noticed he has the @JamesBlake Twitter handle. You didn’t lock that down?

“I’m not Twitter- or Facebook-savvy at all, so let him have that. He can do all the social media stuff. I’m public enough. I don’t need people knowing every time I run to the grocery store or anything.”

Understandable, but your pal Andy Roddick is all about Twitter, and I have to say, he’s pretty funny.

“Andy is funny. Andy I think has a little more to say. I’m a little more quiet.”

 When’s the last time you hung out with your childhood pal John Mayer?

“I saw him during the L.A. Open this year, three weeks ago. He’s doing great, unbelievable. I’m so proud of him always, and he has actually already agreed to do my charity event in November, so I’m thrilled. He did my first one and he’s going to do this one. I know tickets will go quickly once everyone knows that he’s going to be performing.”

He’s always dating pretty famous people like Jennifer Aniston; what about you?

“I’ve never really gone the celebrity route, but if I was in the position he’s in, that’s probably who he’s around a lot more. I’m not around as many people like that but I’ve got the greatest girl in the world so I can’t complain about a thing. I don’t want to get into naming, but she’s awesome.”

We played poker together a while back, and I’ve talked to professional poker players about their superstitions. Do you have any when it comes to tennis?

“It’s funny, I’ve got a ton in tennis, I never have any in poker and everyone tells me the longer I play, the more I’ll have. I’m sure that’s true because it’s the same in tennis. When I started, I didn’t have any, and now I have so many because if something works you just kind of stick with it and it gets stuck in your head.”

So what are they?

“Same breakfast, whatever it was for the first match. On the court, I have to get the balls from the ball kid closest to the umpire before I serve, every time. I have to have the same routine when I sit down on the changeover. If I get broken, I get to change the routine. Otherwise it’s the same: drink from the Gatorade, drink from the water and then go to the towel.”

I’m curious to know what your thoughts are on the dispute over grunting in tennis? I find it all hilarious.

“I think it’s pretty funny, too. When I was first starting on tour, Monica Seles was the big deal, how much she was grunting, and now I feel like she’d be considered quiet on the women’s tour. I think some people need to do it, exhaling when you hit. It’s always been taught as being healthy, but some of it sounds like screaming. I don’t know how that’s healthy, because I feel like you’ve got to think about it. The ones that I’m surprised by are the ones that don’t do it in practice and then they go out on the match and it’s that loud. I’ve never understood that. It’s never bothered me when I’ve played against people that are grunting loud. I feel like I’m just worried about my side of the court and not theirs. I don’t know how the fans like it because it could probably be distracting to them.”

It seems like people get upset about the women more than the men.

“Well, I just think the women are louder. I don’t know. I could be biased because I’m out there on the men’s tour not noticing it as much, but I think they’re just so loud. Some of them really seem like they’re shrieking, and maybe it’s just that it’s more high-pitched and you can’t hear it as well when the guys are a little lower.”

How hung up do you get about tennis rankings? [Blake's ATP world ranking: No. 63]

“I don’t worry about it too much now that I’ve gotten a little older. I’ve run the gamut of being up pretty high and being down pretty low. I don’t feel like it always indicated how well I’m playing. Right now I feel like I’m playing very well, probably better than my ranking indicates, and there were times when I didn’t feel like I was a top-10 player when I was a top-10 player. I don’t worry too much about it. I just focus on that day of practice and that match coming up next.”

Laura Lane is a regular contributor to ESPN.com, OK magazine and Esquire.com. She can be reached at laura@lauralane.com.

NEW YORK (AP)—There was plenty of serving, but it all involved food as the U.S. Open held its “Taste of Tennis” event in advance of Monday’s grand slam.

Reigning open champ Rafael Nadal, James Blake and Mardy Fish were on hand for the culinary event Thursday night, designed to raise funds for the New York Junior Tennis League.

Tommy Haas, Mikhail Youzhny and Marin Cilic were among the former and current tennis players who acted as food servers, handing people small plates of miniburgers, ceviche, steak and more.

Michelle Bernstein was among the top chefs who prepared food for the event and served up shrimp to the crowd.

Though she called herself an admirer of the game, she wasn’t staying to watch any of the Open. She planned to leave as soon as possible to head back to Miami to avoid Hurricane Irene, which was expected to hit New York on Sunday.

Serves and Serving- For an evening of food for a cause just before the start of the United States Open, chefs including Anita Lo, John Fraser, Sea Gallante and Michelle Bernstein will team up with tennis stars including Mardy Fish and Victoria Azarenka. They will be on hand from 7 to 10pm Thursday at the W New York Hotel, 49^th Street and Lexington Avenue. Tickets $275, to benefit the New York Junior Tennis League: (215)925-7875, amanda@aysworld.com. Information: tasteoftennis.com.

Photo Spread of VIP Guests at the BNP Paribas Taste of Tennis in Intelligencer/Party Lines Section featuring Kelly Choi, Andy Roddick, Katie Lee, Mario Pagan, Kim Clijsters, Chrissy Teigen, John Legend, and Victoria Azarenka

Serving, But No Nets- More than 20 tennis stars will gather on Aug. 26 from 7-10 p.m. at the W New York on Lexington Avenue to benefit the New York Junior Tennis League. The players will team up with guest chefs and the food will be served for tasting. For tickets $275: bnpparibastasteoftennis.com -Florence Fabricant

Hot Dates 08.10- BNP Paribas Taste of Tennis- Some of the world’s greatest tennis players trade in their rackets for aprons at this annual tasting affair. They cook alongside Manhattan’s hottest chefs to raise money for New York Junior Tennis League, which works to transform the lives of children through tennis. Participating chefs include STK’s Todd Mark Miller and Sushi Samba’s Michael Cressotti.

New York Tennis Stars and chefs team up for charity at the BNP Paribas Taste of Tennis- the ultimate appetizer before the U.S. Open kicks off. This year see Andy Roddick, Tommy Haas and Nadia Petrova slice and dice with chefs from STK and Sushi Samba. W New York Hotel. August 26th. tasteoftennis.com

Mmmm . . . tennis!

Andy Roddick and Katie Lee Joel will headline the 11th-annual BNP Paribas Taste of Tennis event Aug. 26 at the W New York Hotel in Midtown.

Reigning Open women’s champ Kim Clijsters is set to join Roddick along with other aces, including Wimbledon marathon man John Isner, Tommy Haas, Vera Zvonareva and Tomas Berdych. This year’s event benefits the New York Junior Tennis League. More info at bnpparibastasteoftennis.com.