FLUSHING MEADOWS, NY – The last time Brian Baker won a match at the US Open it was 2005. Since then Baker has been on the road back to tennis, battling injuries, surgeries until his comeback a few months ago.
The man from Nashville, won his second career match at the US Open seven years since the first moving past Czech Jan Hajek 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 on Wednesday.
“I think just being older and, you know, knowing how easy the game was taken away from me, said Baker. It’s very easy to appreciate it a lot. I don’t take anything for granted.
“I remember several years watching it on TV wishing I was here, so just to be here is an awesome feeling. And then at the same time, the competitive side kicks over and I want to do really well.
“I had some nerves,†said Baker. “I don’t think it was probably the prettiest match ever. A win is a win. I felt like when I needed to I played well. I’m not sure exactly the break point stats, but I know I didn’t get broken and was probably pretty high percentage on my conversion rate.â€
Baker began the year with a ranking of 458th in the world and now he’s at 70.
“It’s always exciting to play the Open, said Baker, “but that was another sense of just pride knowing I had done it on my own. I hope to be able to play several more US Opens, but I don’t take any of them for granted.
“My mind is in the present right now, and I still have a long way to go this next couple of weeks.â€
Next up for Baker is Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia. Tipsarevic needed to rally from two sets down to get past Frenchman  Guillaume Rufin of France 4-6, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-2.
http://youtu.be/wNHjfo4etXY