Week 41 - Futures F8 ($15K) - Port Pirie, Australia

The Magician Santoro · Top national player

RE: Week 41 - Futures F8 ($15K) - Port Pirie, Australia

indiana · Tennis legend

Yes, Count, more than hope of Jamie getting his ranking high enough to get into AOQ if he wants, which I'd guess he would ( given he seems to love Aus smile

). I'd say a really very good chance. If Jamie wins the title this week, he'll probably be already pretty close to doing enough to get into AOQ.

I base this on research I recalled Steven did before this year's Aus Open :

steven wrote:

Recent AO Q cuts when the entry lists came out and after w/ds:

2008 original 273 final ???
2007 orig. c. 280 final 311
2006 original 279 final 295 (*)
2005 original 274 final 380
2004 original 267 final 434

(*) Bloomers is ranked 295 and Slabba 296

The really extreme cuts happened when loads of players in the Alt list opted out late on because they didn't want to risk going to Aus on the off-chance and then one or two very late withdrawals allowed Aussies who were way down on the Alt list to get in at the last moment, but even so the 'true' cut in 2004 and 2005 was about 310.

Even if you allow for the original cut being lower last year, these figures suggest that in 4 of the last 5 years, anyone in the top 300 at the cut-off date who wanted to play in qualifying got in fairly comfortably in the end. Remember that as well as qualifying w/ds creating extra spaces in the qualifying draw, main draw w/ds and most main draw WCs create extra spaces too, so it's not surprising that the cut tends to drop so far.

So, I'd say there's no way Wardy won't get in and a better than even chance that Bloomers and Slabba will if they have bothered to enter.

So generally he reckoned if you were in the top 300, you tended to be able to get in fairly comfortably, and Slabba did indeed get in this year ranked 296 on the alternates list.

Now, if Jamie wins this week, he'll go to 130 points which will probably take him to about 320 in the rankings on Monday week. 300th place is currently 151 points. but as is the way with the new points this year, that will no doubt come down.over the next few weeks.

Jamie has only 4 points to defend the rest of the year. So, as I say title this week and he'd probably be on the verge already, another very good week ( say 20 points ) such as say in Jersey Challenger and that would just about do it.

-- Edited by indiana on Friday 16th of October 2009 05:23:18 PM

DavidC · Tennis legend

Shhh wrote:

Todd Reid could be a very dangerous opponent He got as high as 105 in 2004 with some decent wins on his record. I presume injury has wrecked his career since, with long periods of not playing but, he's shown some form this week.

A combination of illness and injury - something Jamie will sympathise
with. He was a great hope for the Aussies, not only winning Wimbledon, but also a finalist at the Oz Junior Open and ending up as a top 5 junior just ahead of Marcus Baghdatis

Here's a recent article to clarify

http://www.tennis.com.au/pages/News.aspx?id=4&pageId=11478&HandlerId=2&archive=false&newsid=6213

Silver · County player

Was it not Todd Reid's brother who threatened to punch McEnroe after his commentary at the Aus Open one year where he said he was (basically and not quoting directly) a bit rubbish?

steven · Tennis legend

A very positive article on Jamie in the Mail - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-1220431/Baker-boy-Jamie-t-stop-winning.html

Mikeduke · County player

Todd has retired from the last 2 events and retires again here.

Jamie wins 6-3 ret.

Other semi final not yet played.

Mikeduke · County player

Jamie is in the unusual position of being ranked higher but seeded lower than Ebden.

One more match to make this trip to Australia pretty awesome!

FINAL : Jamie Baker (GBR) 6 WR 447 vs EBDEN, Matthew (AUS) 5 WR 474

Jamie beat Ebden in three sets in Darwin and then 4 and 1 last week in the QF.

Good luck Jamie!

Smidster · Challenger level

You have to feel Sorry for Reid

Some of his injuries since winning Junior Wimbledon - Since then, injuries have included patella tendonitis, a sprained ankle and a pre-stress fracture in an arm, while a severe bout of glandular fever has apparently never quite been shaken

Anyway Well done Jamie

johnnylad · Tennis legend

Wow - another final.

What a guy!

indiana · Tennis legend

YES, IT'S A BAKER'S DOZEN ( 13 successive victories over Aus players )

( with acknowledgement to The Magician Santora who first used this term earlier in the thread when contemplating the possibility smile

)

I wonder if there are Aussie forums with Aussie Bashing threads and where Jamie is now placed ?? smile

As folk have said though, you do have to feel really sorry for Reid, he had had such a tough time and it seems his wows continue.

I see, according to that really good Daily Mail article that Steven linked to, that Jamie is planning on American Challengers after a little time back in Glasgow. No mention of Jersey in that article at least :

"After this week in Port Pirie, three hours drive from Adelaide and 'the quietest place I have ever been to', Baker will make his first trip home to Glasgow since May. Then it is off to play in higher level Challenger tournaments in America before the end of the season."

Anyway, here's hoping for now that Jamie can beat Ebden for the 3rd time in 4 tournaments. At least if he does Ebden can console himself that there is someone who's had more of an issue with Jamie, just ask Robert Smeets biggrin

alex03maccy · Grand Slam Champion

As well as prove his talent and fight with this run of wins, i think jamie has also proved his fitness is at a good level and is good enough for davis cup ties.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

I'm SO pleased for him!

Good luck in the final.

steven · Tennis legend

alex03maccy wrote:

As well as prove his talent and fight with this run of wins, i think jamie has also proved his fitness is at a good level and is good enough for davis cup ties.

I would imagine that barring another injury/illness, Jamie "I eat Aussies for breakfast" Baker is already a shoe-in for the next DC tie.

I think the most telling comment in the Daily Mail article is:

"'I am different to most players in that I take complete responsibility for myself and what I'm doing. There are not many who do that.'"

I don't know how fair or unfair to the other players (particularly the other Brits) that is, but it's definitely one of Jamie's character traits and he's right to be proud of it.

indiana · Tennis legend

To think that last Davis Cup tie was a few short weeks ago, and when folk were contemplating players for the Lithuania tie, I don't recall anyone throwing Jamie's name even close to the mix, myself included and I am a big Jamie fan.

He has though done so much in the last couple of months in reestablishing much of the old Jamie.

It will be very interesting to see how he performs in American challengers, but the way he has performed seemingly increasingly easily and consistently encourages the prospect that certainly a few good results against more highly ranked players may be obtainable.

A Jamie Baker back at his best with his temperament and fighting spirit would certainly be a Davis Cup asset.

Mervatron · Masters Series Champion

Well Done Jamie, finish the tour with another title.