Nooo though this thread was a joke at first when i saw the title
Hate to speculate but after getting dumped off the Davis cup team like that, more than likely though what the point. Hasen't he suffered from depression in the past too ?
There are uncanny rankings similarities between Jamie and Josh, at least superficially - Josh has the higher career high by just 2 places (184 c.f. 186 for Jamie) and they have both been ranked in the top 400 at every year-end from 2005 onwards, though Josh ended 2004 in the top 400 too. They have also both qualified for slams twice but have never won a main draw singles match in a slam and have both reached Challenger singles finals, Josh 2 and Jamie 1.
Josh also has the edge in pro titles won but Jamie aimed higher more often and has a better DC record (4-4 to Josh's 0-4, though it is hard to compare DC rubbers at different levels), a better record in ATPs (3 main draw wins to 1 for Josh) and a much better record against top 100 players, having beaten 6 of them while Josh's career best scalp was WR 106. Those last few things, his much-mentioned amazing work ethic and the fact he had to rebuild his career after his illness in 2008 probably explain why Jamie is getting so much more coverage. (that and the fact he has announced his retirement more clearly)
If Boggo and Bloomers (both older than Jamie and Josh) decide to call it a day this year too, we could lose 4 of just 6 currently-ranked players who have been in the top 200 as Brits (i.e. excluding Klein) - I hope this doesn't turn into 2006/7 all over again, when having hit a peak of 20 men in the ATP singles top 500 in October 2005, a spate of retirements and players deciding to specialise in doubles meant we had just 8 players in the top 500 at the end of 2007.
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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!
What a great video. (Do hope that they make it easily accessible on website, not just on Twitter feed ... would never have seen it, had Alexei not mentioned it) Mr Baker has always been an inspiration in his hard work and determination to make the most of his gifts generally and of any opportunities he was given. Great to see that he's excited by going into new fields, and all the best to him. Suspect that whatever field he goes into will be fortunate to have him.
Jamie is a nice guy but has struggled with illness over a number of years. Saw him at Roehampton against the Russian he was 4-2 up final set but lost must have been a major disappointment. Jamie gives 100 per cent but has no major weapons to trouble top players. Wish him well ==maybe he will be a commentator that is what most ex British tennis players become ==then they forget how average (Henman/Rusedski excluded) they were when playing
Actually, if you look at the video, he's quite clear that he wants to do something entirely different for a while, perhaps returning to a sports-related field at a later point. Came across, unsurprisingly, as very level-headed, with a clear sense of life beyond tennis and an interesting perspective on the education that life in tennis gives for beyond the court.
Disappointed to see Jamie retire as I have enjoyed following his tennis career. Watched him in qualifying at Queen's recently where he showed the positive attitude for which he is always praised. He has set a very good example for others to follow and I hope he returns to something tennis related once he has explored other avenues. Thanks Jamie, pleased you are retiring under your own terms. Best of luck with your post-playing career.
Judging by one of the hundreds (if not thousands) of Andy Murray-related articles today, Jamie's retirement may have been a decoy to cover up some unexpected success in the LTA's secret experiments to graft his work ethic onto Evo's forehand
Thanks for sharing, great article. What I can't get my head around is why golf , another individual sport offers such higher rewards? Anyone care to explain why that is? At junior level I held the same hopes as Jamie (until I got thoroughly thrashed by a younger David Sherwood and gave up soon after)