Week 40 - Futures F7 (15k) - Happy Valley, Australia

indiana · Tennis legend

RE: Week 40 - Futures F7 (15k) - Happy Valley, Australia

steven · Tennis legend

I don't know - the opposition isn't quite as tough as the players he faced on that unbeaten run in Texas just before he got ill, if I remember right, and he isn't having to face players ranked anywhere near his old CH of 211, but he must be getting quite close - he's certainly playing like a player who should be in the top 300 at the moment.

steven · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:

steven wrote:

He's now won 25/28 matches since going back to the Far East after losing in Ottershaw including 19 of his last 20.
In fact he's getting so good again, Steven's already giving him this title

I see it's not just the Count who's a rank amateur in the business of catching me out biggrin

- the extra two matches aren't the SF and Final here, they're the two rounds he won to qualify for Thailand F3 at the end of August.

Count Zero · Tennis legend

Smarty Pants

indiana · Tennis legend

Qualifiers, huh ! Actually, I bow to you smile

What progress from playing qualifiers for a future at the end of August to now.

I mean he's won 25 / 28 matches since the start of Thailand F1 you know !

He did say in the BBC radio interview that wolf refers to on the initial post that he now feels that the real Jamie is back.

-- Edited by indiana on Friday 9th of October 2009 12:07:08 PM

steven · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:

Qualifiers, huh ! Actually, I bow to you

What progress from playing qualifiers for a future in the middle of August ( when ranked 793 ) to now.

I mean he's won 25 / 28 matches since the start of that qualification !

He did say in the BBC radio interview that he now feels the real Jamie is back.

There's now a fantastic report on the ITF site about the Darwin win, with pics including one of Jamie looking extremely happy.

See http://www.itftennis.com/mens/news/newsarticle.asp?articleid=20539

It includes:

"The Northern Territory Mens International 2 final saw the British player defeating Brisbanes John Millman 64 26 63 in an amazingly intense 2hr battle in oppressive conditions with the temperature gauge reaching 36-degrees. In post match speeches, Millman lamented that he thought he would have had the inside running due to the conditions. I didnt know they had hot weather in Scotland he quipped.

Baker has had an incredible run this month slowly working his way back from a long layoff due to a blood infection. Jamie has featured in three back-to-back ITF Pro Circuit finals, winning in Nonthaburi, Thailand and this week in Darwin. Sandwiched between those was a finals appearance last week at the first Darwin Mens International. Millman told an enthralled crowd that Baker had been the man of the fortnight.

In early rounds Baker out-thought Lucky Loser James OBrien (AUS) 63 62 in the first round, and then comfortably accounted for Matheson Klein (AUS) 63 60 in the next round. In the quarters, Baker made short work of second seed Jose Statham 62 62, out duelling his counterpart from the baseline. In a tense semi final, Baker ground out a 76(2) 76(7) victory over 6th seed Robert Smeets of Queensland. Meanwhile, top seed Millman had tasted success against Mikal Statham (NZL) 60 32 RET, Zhe Li (CHN) 62 64, Yuichi Ito (JPN) 64 61 and Kaden Hensel (AUS) 36 75 63.

The final was destined to be a classic with two inform and tenacious baseliners pitted against one another. Baker seemed to have the measure of his opponent early on, always managing to find the answers to repel the polished Millman groundtstrokes. Up a set and an early break, the story appeared to have been written but Millman proved his mettle by turning the deficit around with a 5 game surge that saw him level the match at one set all. Just when the tide was running against him, Baker grabbed an early break in the third and try as Millman might, Baker held strong to secure his second win in three weeks and his first on Australian soil.

In his victory speech, Baker spoke of his love for the game and how his period away from the sport had reinvigorated his desires to compete at the highest level. Its great to have my (tennis) life back again, he told the appreciative crowd. An enthusiastic Darwin crowd marvelled at the quality of the baseline rallies throughout the match, and also the high level of sportsmanship, which has become synonymous with both players."

I imagine that if Jamie were an Aussie coming back from injury and went on a Brit-bashing streak in the UK Futures, we wouldn't be too happy, but it sounds like he's managed to make himself pretty popular out there despite depriving them of so many points.

indiana · Tennis legend

Smidster wrote:

Well done again Jamie - a win here, in the semi, would take him frutratingly close to getting back in top 400

It might be just enough to get into the 300s, the first 94 pointer is currently 407th, and these points won't be added until a week on Monday. Another title would certainly do it.

His last 3 tournaments Thailand F3, Australia F5 and F6 have each time moved him into a new 100 tier when added into his ranking points, cumulatively from 700s to 400s, which must be unusual in itself.

But say he hits the 300s, I wonder if / when last someone with 4 successive tournaments moved up 4 successive 100 tiers.

-- Edited by indiana on Friday 9th of October 2009 12:58:50 PM

steven · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
But say he hits the 300s, I wonder if / when last someone with 4 successive tournaments moved up 4 successive 100 tiers.

That's another one I'm going to resist! wink

Drew · Oct 9, 2009

Just back from 'Lower Breakish' on the lovely Isle of skye. The house we stayed at had no GPRS signal so was only managing to login in now and again.

Fab week for Jamie again...seems to have bags of energy...long may it last. A fit on form Baker would have made a big difference to our DC team...fingers firmly crossed he stays fit and gets top 200 status soon.

gjr · Club Coach

Jamie wins 6-4, 1-6, 6-1

He will play Smeets in the final.

Smidster · Challenger level

Well done Jamie

Now complete a 3rd title in 4 with a 3rd win (preferably straight sets) against Smeets.

Drew · Oct 10, 2009

great stuff again !!!!

indiana · Tennis legend

Running out of things to say when wake up to yet another Jamie Baker win.

I do like it though, makes a good a start to the day smile

And rather more importantly, it's just been so great for Jamie.

Well done on a 4th successive final and here's hoping a 3rd title in 4 tournaments is on its way.

I hope Mr Millman still feels as complimentary as he was after Jamie last beat him

The Magician Santoro · Top national player

Well done to the Baker!

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Go Baker Boy!