Wow....huge hold for 5-2....that was massive.....was really worried as he didn't seem able to get his first serve in....Young missed a number of break points....wow....huge let off.
FQR: Jamie Baker WR 246 beat Donald Young (USA) WR 189 (CH 38 last Feb) by 6-4 1-6 6-3 FQR: James Ward WR 247 lost to Julian Reister (GER) WR 296 (CH 92 in 2011) by 3 & 5
Not only has Jamie qualified 5 years to the day after he last did it - he has just said in his interview that he beat Köllerer on the very same court!
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GB on a shirt, Davis Cup still gleaming, 79 years of hurt, never stopped us dreaming ... 29/11/2015 that dream came true!
David Law: "Quality celebration from Baker as he seals match point with a Donald Young Forehand long. Baker threw racquet into air. Roared. Great." and "Andy Murray did about 5 TV interviews just now. After every one he asked for a score update on Baker's match."
Piers Newbery: "Star treatment for Jamie Baker, a very happy man... http://lockerz.com/s/276270513 " and "Aaargh! Not quick enough with the camera to snap @andy_murray nipping out of the player's tunnel to give JB a huge hug. People screamed."
Judy Murray: "Separated at birth. Jamie Baker and The Cheshire Cat. #ausopen"
OEM: "Jamie Baker qualifies for @AustralianOpen and second biggest smile in the place (and fist pump as we pass in corridor) is Andy Murray's"
Dan Kiernan: "Do not underestimate just what an amazing achievement that is from Jamie Baker to qualify @AustralianOpen .Chuffed for him #example"
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GB on a shirt, Davis Cup still gleaming, 79 years of hurt, never stopped us dreaming ... 29/11/2015 that dream came true!
A bonus for those of you who weren't up early this morning - footage of most of Jamie Baker's 3rd set v Donald Young can be found on youtube at http://bit.ly/ZGxh0a - or just the final game from 4:38:37 and the post-match interview from 4:44:11
Seriously though, I think that's not a bad draw - apparently Rosol won just 2 games against Petzschner in R1 of last year's AO. Even if Jamie loses, he should rise to around WR 210 after the AO.
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GB on a shirt, Davis Cup still gleaming, 79 years of hurt, never stopped us dreaming ... 29/11/2015 that dream came true!
I'm so pleased for Jamie, he deserves it with the bad luck he had getting that serious illness just when he was beginning to make his mark. I hope he has some luck in who he gets to play in the first round - I haven't had time to check the draw to see who is possible.
It's especially nice to have some good news this morning - I have to tell you I am going through a difficult time as my husband had a stroke yesterday, and I will not be able to be on the Forum as much as usual. Not that you will probably notice, I haven't been posting so much recently, but I was on the Forum several times a day reading the threads and that won't be possible for a few months, I don't think.