L32: Jamie Baker WR 297 v (WC) Steve Johnson (USA) WR 798
A nice R1 draw from Jamie, but if he gets through that, it will be (7) Kevin Kim WR 176 or Amer Delic in R2 with (1) Donald Young WR 111 the other seed in that quarter of the draw.
__________________
GB on a shirt, Davis Cup still gleaming, 79 years of hurt, never stopped us dreaming ... 29/11/2015 that dream came true!
Ah, possibly not quite so nice in R1. I assume Johnson is a college player and he actually qualified for Los Angeles ATP this year, beating Matosevic, Zhang and Guccione before going down 4 & 4 to Devvarman in R1. He lost to WR 961 in his last Futures match though ...
__________________
GB on a shirt, Davis Cup still gleaming, 79 years of hurt, never stopped us dreaming ... 29/11/2015 that dream came true!
Looking at the stats, I would say that this is the ideal opponent for James. Johnson has had some bad losses this season. I would say that he will be in danger if he comes up against a solid and consistent player. I will stick my neck out and say Jamie in three.
There will probably be three/four breaks of serve a set looking at the stats though. Definitely going to be a see-saw of a game.
Looking at the stats, I would say that this is the ideal opponent for James. Johnson has had some bad losses this season. I would say that he will be in danger if he comes up against a solid and consistent player. I will stick my neck out and say Jamie in three.
There will probably be three/four breaks of serve a set looking at the stats though. Definitely going to be a see-saw of a game.
Shows what I know, that was a routine win for Jamie.
L32: Jamie Baker WR 338 beat (WC) Steve Johnson (USA) WR 792 by 4 & 2
L16: Jamie Baker WR 338 v Amer Delic (BIH) UNR
Delic's impressive 3 & 2 thrashing of (7) Kevin Kim WR 182 in R1 ended an 8-match losing streak which included a 7-6(7) 7-6(6) loss to Meatball in Wimbledon QR1 and a 9-7 in the 5th loss to Gil (after winning a 3rd set t/b 16-14) in DC, so Jamie may be meeting him at just the wrong time ...
__________________
GB on a shirt, Davis Cup still gleaming, 79 years of hurt, never stopped us dreaming ... 29/11/2015 that dream came true!
Yes, Delic didn't play from July 2009 to the US Open this year. He was ranked WR 178 after his last match of 2009 in Newport RI.
To put it in more context ( Steven maybe in a hurry ) the 8 losing matches prior to his R1 win here are spread 4 before and 4 after this very long break.
His loss to Meatball was at Wimbledon 2009. He had a comfortable straight loss in the US Open Q to Yani ( WR 226 ) on his return. However, his 3 matches since have been quite impressive without winning, i..e the 5 set Davis Cup loss Steven referred to to Gil ( WR 83 ) over 5 sets on clay in Portugal, and then 2 three set losses in American Hard Court Challengers to Kamke ( WR 88 ) and Matosevic ( WR 163 )
So it certainly does look as if Jamie will have to play very well to get any furher here.
Yes, Delic didn't play from July 2009 to the US Open this year. He was ranked WR 178 after his last match of 2009 in Newport RI.
To put it in more context ( Steven maybe in a hurry ) the 8 losing matches prior to his R1 win here are spread 4 before and 4 after this very long break.
Oops - yes, in a hurry, and it was a bit late, or early, depending on your point of view! I even thought afterwards that I was sure Meatball hadn't beaten him in Wimbledon qualifying this year and I'd better go back and check when I'd dealt with the other results but then forgot to do so.
I am mortified to have disappointed the Count yet again
__________________
GB on a shirt, Davis Cup still gleaming, 79 years of hurt, never stopped us dreaming ... 29/11/2015 that dream came true!