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Brian Baker Makes Third Round Of Wimbledon
7 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
The astonishing American has done it again. He dominated lefty Jarkko Nieminen in three sets, to reach the third round of Wimbledon. The Finn upset always dangerous Feliciano Lopez, a top 25 player on his best surface, in the first round.
Brian Baker is showing the composure and poise of a champion. He just keeps winning and winning, whatever the surface. So far his overall record on the year is 43 wins and 10 losses. His best shots are his serve placement and the backhand which is a double-hander.
Donald Young, Jack Sock, Dennis Kudla, Ryan Harrison, and the rest of the young Americans continue to struggle to make inroads in major or even Masters Series events, but here comes Brian Baker, out of six year injury limbo, now emerging as a potential contender for major titles.
Next up for Baker…Rafael Nadal.
Baker could go all the way · Heck
Gans · June 28, 2012 at 3:09 pm
Yes, Scoop. I love Brian Baker’s game and personality. It’s a heartening story. He can do it.
Also I got to know Brian’s former coach Charles Batte through my kid’s coach Gary Plock. Charles is at Wimbledon with Brian right now.
He looked at my kid when he visited Louisville in May. May be I will write a story about it later. 🙂
Steve · June 28, 2012 at 3:18 pm
Nice. Harrison losing 4, 4 & 4 to Djoker looked impressive.
Andrew Miller · June 28, 2012 at 3:32 pm
Here’s wishing Baker luck vs. Nadal. Will be tough. That said, Baker unlikely to give himself excuses.
Dan Markowitz · June 28, 2012 at 7:02 pm
Rasol is up a break on Nadal in the third set with the sets divided at 1-all. Rasol is looking real good. Never really heard or seen him play, but Baker might not have to face Rafa.
Again, Rafa has lost his cool, upset that Rasol has been moving around when returning serve. This guy Rasol, looking like a modern-day Ivan Lendl, is bullying Nadal. He’s kept Nadal off balanced and hammered his serves and kept the points short. It’s 4-2 in the third, Rafa has a gut check. This guy, Rasol, is not playin’.
Mitch · June 28, 2012 at 8:15 pm
Baker plays Paire next, not Nadal/Rosol.
Scoop Malinowski · June 29, 2012 at 12:52 am
Rosol looked like a top 10 player in the first set, and he backed it up the rest of the way, miraculous effort by the newcomer. My friend Coach Kozlov was coaching him at Sony Ericsson, I met Kozlov at a USTA tourney, really knowledgable guy. I have to get in touch with him and get the scoop on Rosol who may be another late blooming Stepanek type player. Very edgy and feisty out there, tough guy to play as he will get down and dirty, Nadal gets upset when players like Rosol and Soderling challenge him, Nadal likes to be in control. I think they said Rosol lost in Wimb qualies five years in a row before finally making it this year. THis is just an astonishing result.
Michael · June 29, 2012 at 2:41 am
Paire is a very talented player but not so much in the mental toughness department. Baker is a much better competitor. Baker in 4.
Speaking of mental toughness. Harry and Milos (another game for Milos !) seem to really be separating themselves from the more fragile Tomic and Dimitrov in the mental toughness department. And how many times is Tomic going to lose early at Major and announce it was a good loss ?