FI: (1) Jamie Baker WR 269 v (Q) Jurek Stasiak (AUS) WR 1246

Stasiak is 29 and had a career high of 213 way back in 1998 (a year when he played a Challenger QF against Lleyton Hewitt and lost to Spadea in 5 sets in the AO) but has been sliding down more or less ever since. (ITF says 608 in 2000, it looks like their career highs don't go back further than 200, which is worth bearing in mind for future reference)

He has had as easy a route to the Final as he could hope, beating a fellow qualifier in R1, the winner of a LL (replacing a seed) v WC in R2, and then Berankis and Capkovic, who are decent junior and top 400 players respectively, but still not as strong as you would expect to have to beat to reach a Final.

Of course, he had to win three rounds of qualifying too, so he is on a 7-match/14-set winning streak compared to Jamie's 10-match winning streak. He only played a Brit twice last year, losing to Myles Blake both times.

I don't want to make too strong a prediction and jinx Jamie, who he must be pretty tired by now, but you can work out for yourself who's going to be the big favourite here ...

-- Edited by steven at 01:14, 2008-03-02

Jamie

Well done Jamie. Fingers crossed for another trophy. Can you keep this up for another week?

I should think the doubles Final finished 1-2 hours ago

Come back TBarM7, all is forgiven

How frustrating knowing the result may be out there but it has not yet reached us.. [lol]

You beauty!!!!

He Da MAN!!!



He must be so pleased! 11 matches and counting!



So encouraging and exciting so see consistent winning from a Brit!

well played jamoe, 11matches and counting.

will eh be going for qualies at iw? would be a great place to take this form to