Baker Has Severe Knee Injury At The Open

Written by: Staff on 16th January 2013

Baker Has Severe Knee Injury At The Open |

Brian Baker’s heartrending misfortune struck again as the American whose determination last year jettisoned him from the depths of the Futures Circuit to the second week of a Grand Slam, severely injured his right knee at the Australian Open and now faces a sixth bout of surgery.

Baker, now ranked world no.57, was leading his 20th-seeded fellow American Sam Querrey when he tried to step back to play a backhand felt something pop in his knee. After prolonged treatment on the court he was eventually taken by wheelchair back to the locker rooms and within an hour a primary diagnosis of a torn lateral meniscus was offered.

Things could have been much worse if 27 year-old Baker had suffered anterior cruciate ligament as he first feared. First predictions suggested recovery from the operation necessary to mend the meniscus tear could take a minimum of four months which would render the player unlikely for the French Open and possibly Wimbledon.

Opponent Querrey said of Baker: “I feel awful for him. He’s the last person that deserves anything like that, with his five or six surgeries already. He does everything right, treats his body great, just trying to come back, and then something like that happens, it’s just so unlucky.”

“So, you know, I think if he can heal quickly or if it takes a year, I think he can get right back where he is right now. He’s talented; he’s good enough. No matter what happens, I still think he can come back to where he is now.”

With John Isner and Mardy Fish suffering enforced absences from the year’s first Grand Slam, and Andy Roddick now retired, Baker was the second-highest ranked American in the men’s singles draw behind Querrey, who added: “I hope it’s not that bad. But if it is, he’s the guy that can come back from it.”

Baker had previously undergone a succession of surgical operations on his hips, one on his elbow along with a hernia repair that all contributed to keeping former top junior out of the elite ranks for six years

Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said the probability is Baker will fly back to the United States before the end of the week.

©Daily tennis news wire

Topics: Australian Open, Brian Baker, French Open, Grand Slam, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, US tennis news, Wimbledon