This just in–in breaking news–the ATP Tour is outlawing John Isner from playing against anymore aging French players in slams, especially the French and Wimbledon where there are no fifth-set tie-breakers.

Isner and Aging Frenchman Will No Longer Play Against Each Other in Slams

I watched in awe as Brian Baker came back from two sets down to force a fifth set against Gilles Simon. The first set had been close, but Simon had put Baker’s game into a funk in the second. Somehow, Baker rallied with strong shot-making, particularly with his backhand down the line and some very deft, Djokovic-like backhand drop shots. Now a fifth set awaited, and Baker, who started the season with a telephone number ranking, had a chance to put down the No. 11-seed.

Feet of Clay

It was the same dynamic as last year, an almost hostile, one-sided French Open crowd roared and inspired Virginie Razzano to upset Serena Williams. Last year they broke down Djokovic and uplifted Federer.

In no other slam stadium court do you hear the crowd roar as vehemently and emphatically as they do at Chatrier for one of their favored players.

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I did watch the epic last game of this match. I believe it went to 12 or 13 deuces with Virginie Razzono serving. Serena, who had a one-set lead and a 5-2 lead in the second set breaker, was down 5-0 in the third set and was on the brink of bringing the final set back on serve if she could cash in on one of her many break point chances. But she couldn’t. She had closed the final set to 5-3 and Razzono had a leg injury to boot.

Serena Loses in The French First

I did this Biofile with ATP #141 (and rising fast) Brian Baker back in 2003 at the US Open so it’s a bit outdated but still a good read…

Tennis Heroes: “I think all the young Americans, I grew up idolizing Pete and Andre, for how they dominated the sport for so long.”

Hobbies/Interests: “Let’s see…Golf. I’m a sports oriented person. I like going out to movies. I like hanging out with friends. I like occasional video games [smiles].”

Nicknames: “Pretty much the only one is Bakes.”

"Fell face first in red clay"

Lauren Davis scores a big knockout win 61 61 over #30 seed Mona Barthel. She will meet fellow young American Christina McHale in the second round. Davis, 18 and two years younger than the Jersey girl, says she doesn’t know McHale at all but has watched her play many times.

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Check out the below piece on Pat McEnroe and the woeful performance of the USTA’s Junior Development Program, which PMac, which in addition to doing his ESPN tennis tv and radio work, is the general manager. Now here comes Brian Barker, yet another top American player the USTA didn’t have a hand in developing.

PMac Should Get A Good Laugh About This One

Top half:

#3 Federer and #1 Djokovic are in the top half, no surprise there.

Djokovic could play Hewitt in the second round if Hewitt gets past struggling Kavcic, which he should.

All eyes will be on Fed vs. Djok

Did you see the video of Andy Roddick crushing his racket against the red clay in Dusseldorf, Germany the other day when he tried to hit one of his inside-out forehands inside-in and badly missed? In classic Roddick style, he whacked the Babolat in overhead fashion straight down into the clay, and then when he examined it and saw it was broken, he took his muscled arms and snapped the head in half.

Where Have You Gone--Andy Roddick?

The comeback story of the year in tennis continues.

Brian Baker entered the qualifying tournament for the ATP Nice 250 event. He routined his way through qualies, defeating Ilja Bozoljac 61 61, David Guez 63 62, and Alejandro Gonzalez 63 63.

Brian Baker is on a roll