Week 45: Nashville 75K Challenger

Sheddie · administrator

Week 45: Nashville 75K Challenger

Vonce · Club Coach

I'll do my best, David

Sheddie · administrator

Where were you Vonce ? !!!!

Qualifying draw is now out:

Rd1: J Baker [GB] v S Lipsky [USA]

They've played once before, in the quarters of New Zealand F1 earlier this year when Lipsky won 6-3, 6-2 on the way to reaching the final. He's currently ranked 400 and has had a reasonable year since, making 3 futures semis in the USA in the first half of 2006. Like Jamie, since July he's been playing mostly challengers, trying to make the step up to the next level. He's had slightly more success, making the quarters in Lubbock in September and last week he made the quarters of the Rimouski challenger in Canada. Lipsky possesses a massive first serve which is very difficult to read due to the amount of variation he possesses. He's got a good all-round game for outdoor hard, very aggressive from the baseline and has good touch at the net. When he beat Jamie in New Zealand, he caused a lot of damage that day with his powerful returning. Jamie didn't get enough first serves in and Lipsky really let rip into the 2nd serves.

It's a very tough match given that Lipsky has just done so well in Rimouski, hopefully he'll be struggling a bit with jetlag and tiredness having lost to Pless yesterday and flown from Canada yesterday evening. I reckon it'll be a lot closer than their match earlier this year, for one thing Jamie's 2nd serve has improved a lot since March.

Jamie isn't seeded but he's in the best section with the 4th and 7th seed. If he beats Lipsky he's likely to play Sjisling in rd2, who he beat in US Open juniors a few years back.

johnnylad · Tennis legend

Baker vs Lipsky is not before 3 pm in Nashville today.

That is 9pm here.

steven · Tennis legend

Good news ...

QR1: Jamie Baker WR 309 beat Scott Lipsky (USA) WR 400 by 5 & 5

Great revenge for a 3 & 2 defeat to Lipsky in New Zealand earlier this year. Lipsky reached the QFs in Rimouski last week too so was on form, making this a very creditable win for Jamie.

QR2: Jamie Baker WR 309 v Wesley Whitehouse (RSA) WR 386

3rd on Court 3 at about 19.00 GMT. Whitehouse beat both Josh and Flip at Surbiton this year and he thrashed the no. 7 Q seed 0 & 1 here, which is rather ominous. Hopefully Sijsling was just under the weather, in which case it's good news for Jamie.

Drew · Nov 5, 2006

Good for Jamie....now just keep it up and make the MD

john · Top national player

Wow, what a tough game for Jamie. Whitehouse's ranking has rocketed over 300 places this year and he has the following achievemnents and scalps to his name:

Quarters of USA F6
2nd round of Atlanta challenger, beating WR 177 Hugo Armando in 1st round
2nd round of Surbiton challenger beating Marc Phillipousis in straight sets in 1st round
Last 16 in Indianapolis, ATP event, beating WR 85 Justin Gimelstob and Marat Safin in 1st and 2nd rounds

A few other wins here and there, but I assume he's failed to qualify a few times this year judging by lack of tourneys. Maybe he's very inconsistent?

johnnylad · Tennis legend

Great win for Jamie Baker!!!

He has a good chance against Whitehouse, who is clearly all serve and nothing else.

Sooooooooo pleased he won that first round! Really hope he can qualify and get a WIN!

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Jamie lost to Whitehouse 7-5 6-2

goldenboy · Club Coach

ouch, tho no surprise really. think hew should have just come back for the 2 futures and challenger in the UK. hope he can pick himself up soon!

mjd · Challenger qualifying

Richard is giving the doubles a miss this week

Doubles Qualifying draw
Jamie has teamed with Brendan Evans (USA) in the doubles qualifying. (Evans is Richards first round opponent in the singles)
Baker/Evans have already knocked the 2nd seeds out (With a 10-8 tiebreak) and now face the no 1 seeds.

Singles round 1
Bloomfield vs Evans is 3rd match Monday, court 6
NB 13.00 (19.00 GMT)

Doubles qualifying round
Evans/Baker is 5th match, court 6

Vonce · Club Coach

ultimateshedman wrote:

Where were you Vonce ? !!!!

Qualifying draw is now out:

Rd1: J Baker [GB] v S Lipsky [USA]

They've played once before, in the quarters of New Zealand F1 earlier this year when Lipsky won 6-3, 6-2 on the way to reaching the final. He's currently ranked 400 and has had a reasonable year since, making 3 futures semis in the USA in the first half of 2006. Like Jamie, since July he's been playing mostly challengers, trying to make the step up to the next level. He's had slightly more success, making the quarters in Lubbock in September and last week he made the quarters of the Rimouski challenger in Canada. Lipsky possesses a massive first serve which is very difficult to read due to the amount of variation he possesses. He's got a good all-round game for outdoor hard, very aggressive from the baseline and has good touch at the net. When he beat Jamie in New Zealand, he caused a lot of damage that day with his powerful returning. Jamie didn't get enough first serves in and Lipsky really let rip into the 2nd serves.

It's a very tough match given that Lipsky has just done so well in Rimouski, hopefully he'll be struggling a bit with jetlag and tiredness having lost to Pless yesterday and flown from Canada yesterday evening. I reckon it'll be a lot closer than their match earlier this year, for one thing Jamie's 2nd serve has improved a lot since March.

Jamie isn't seeded but he's in the best section with the 4th and 7th seed. If he beats Lipsky he's likely to play Sjisling in rd2, who he beat in US Open juniors a few years back.

Argh, I feel asleep at the keyboard and I'm being honest. Totally shocking by my standards.

Pity to hear Jamie went out in the QR2

Sheddie · administrator

Superb win for Jamie to get revenge over Lipsky

Great performance against such an on-form opponent. It's a shame he couldn't find a way past Whitehouse but that guy should be ranked in the top 200, he's a quality player but just so inconsistent.

However, it means that if Jamie is going to make the AO qualies cut he still needs to gain 8 points this month and has 3 US challengers in which to do so, unless he plans to head somewhere in December.

Hopefully, with more preparation under his belt, Richard can take advantage of being seeded for this challenger. Evans is a former no 2 in the juniors, he won 3 of the junior doubles grand slams. Currently ranked 339, he's made 2 futures finals and 2 semis this year. Also, reached the quarters of the Talahassee challenger and the Lexington challenger semis after beating Jamie Baker in 3 sets in rd1. However, his recent form is poor, he's lost 5 straight matches, 4 in challenger qualies since mid-September.

johnnylad · Tennis legend

Bloomers is not seeded this week. He only just made the main draw

Sheddie · administrator

johnnylad wrote:

Bloomers is not seeded this week. He only just made the main draw

Oops, that'll teach me for posting without looking at the draw.

Just had a look....Richard's chances don't look too good, if he gets past Evans, 2nd seed and world no 84 Frank Dancevic is likely to be awaiting in rd2.