After Overcoming Several Hurdles, Baker Makes The Main Draw At The Open

Written by: Staff on 14th January 2013

After Overcoming Several Hurdles, Baker Makes The Main Draw At The Open |

Britain’s Australian Open qualifier Jamie Baker overcame not only a life-threatening blood condition but also a prolonged bout of depression before registering a place in the 128 strong main draw at Melbourne Park.

Baker, ranked 246 in the world, secured his place with a 6-4 1-6 6-3 victory in the final round of qualifying over American Donald Young, who just over a year ago was ranked world no. 39. Financially the win guaranteed the 26 year-old Scot the Australian dollar equivalent of $US 35,222, which effectively allows him to carry on playing tennis for another year.

But Baker has won far greater struggles. Nearly five years ago he was suddenly stricken by a rare blood condition (idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura or ITP) where he was warned that the slightest knock to his head would probably leave him paralysed or dead. He made a miraculous recovery from the acutely critical stage in about 36 hours, but it took a year and a half to fully recover.

Even then his troubles were not over. While Murray was moving towards the elite of the tennis world, his long time peer and practice partner repeatedly questioned his misfortune and inability to make the breakthrough. “I was never diagnosed as being clinically depressed, but looking back I would say definitely showing signs of it,” admitted Baker.

“I couldn’t see a purpose to anything I was doing. Tennis began to mean nothing to me. I was saying to myself, ‘What does it matter if I win this match?’ That’s a dangerous place to be because it could have applied to anything I was doing, not just tennis. I wouldn’t see a doctor or go on medication but I checked it all out in books and knew this had to be a form of depression.”

Baker now faces Lukas Rosol, the Czech big hitter who shocked Rafael Nadal at last year’s Wimbledon, was invited to link up with fellow Scot Andy Murray at the world no.3’s Miami training camp at the end of last year.

He said: “I had three and a half weeks training and practicing with Andy out in Miami and that’s a massive amount of time to improve. I really think I’m showing the benefits.”

And Murray led the applause as Baker walked back into the men’s locker room after beating Young. “This is just brilliant for Jamie,” enthused the US Open and Olympic champion. “After everything he’s been through and all the difficulties he’s had, this is a great reward for all the hard work he’s done and dedication he’s showed. He’s such a good guy, I’m just so pleased for him.”

©Daily tennis news wire

Topics: Australian Open, Donald Young, Jamie Baker, Melbourne Park, olympic championship, Sports, Tennis, US Open