PARIS (AFP) - American seventh seed James Blake was knocked out of the French Open on Thursday losing 7-6 (7/2), 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 to Ernests Gulbis of Latvia to become the highest seed to exit the tournament.

Gulbis will face either Ecuador's Nicolas Lapentti or Bobby Reynolds of the United States for a place in the last 16.

The result left the United States, who last year failed to get a single player into the men's second round, depending on Reynolds, Robby Ginepri and Mardy Fish to keep wildcard Wayne Odesnik company in the third round.

The 28-year-old Blake, who had reached the last 32 in 2006, had enjoyed a solid claycourt season coming into Roland Garros having finished runner-up in Houston and the last eight in Rome.

Nineteen-year-old Gulbis, the world number 80, enjoyed a breakthrough Grand Slam performance in 2007 when he reached the last 16 of the US Open beating eighth seed Tommy Robredo of Spain on the way.