The best story in tennis just keeps getting better.
After nearly six years sidelined from the tour with injuries, Brian Baker returned to the U.S. Open for the first time in seven years and put on a dominant first-round performance, dismantling 92nd-ranked Jan Hajek, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2, in under two hours Wednesday afternoon.
Once the second-ranked junior in the world and viewed as the next great American hope, Baker has recovered from five separate surgeries and revitalized a career that appeared to have fallen into an inescapable abyss.
“I never had that thought that, I’m never going to be back, [but] of course you are realistic and you know you might not be back,” Baker said. “But I never once waved the white towel and said, ‘I’m not going to try anymore.’ ”
Baker has done well enough, ranked a career-high 70th after beginning the year at 458th, that he was given automatic entry to a Grand Slam for the first time in his career.
The Nashville native played to a supportive and small capacity crowd at Court 11, mixing a variety of shots, including a deft, game-changing backhand.
“I had some nerves,” the 27-year-old said. “I mean, it’s good nerves. I think it helps you focus a little bit more and want it a little bit more, but it was an exciting time to be back after so much time off.”
Having returned to competitive tennis a little more than one year ago, playing in some of the lowest-level professional events, Baker has spent the better part of this year turning the remarkable into routine. He reached his first ATP final in Nice, and advanced to the second round of the French Open before making the fourth round at Wimbledon.
“Honestly, I feel like I play my best when I do have some expectations,” said Baker, who next faces eighth-seeded Janko Tipsarevic. “Of course I’m going to go in there expecting to win, but I’m going to have to play a great match.”
It wouldn’t be the first time. Baker earned what appeared to be the first of many Grand Slam victories when he defeated No. 9 seed Gaston Gaudio in the first round of the 2005 U.S. Open. Then, everything changed. He became an assistant tennis coach at Belmont University, where he also took classes, and prepared for the possibility of a post-playing life.
Now, he prepares for the next match. It’s all he ever wanted.
“I think just being older and knowing how easy the game was taken away from me, it’s very easy to appreciate it a lot,” Baker said. “I don’t take anything for granted.”