Jamie Baker does not take anything for granted these days.

The Davis Cup player who played at Wimbledon at the age of 19 was on the verge of breaking into the top 200 when he was struck down by serious illness.

After contracting the potentially fatal Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a rare blood condition that affects the immune system, in April of last year, there were fears he would not step back onto a tennis court again.

But the 23 year-old from Glasgow made a full recovery only for a stress fracture to his foot to set him back again.

During his spell out of the game, his world ranking tumbled to 805 but he has been fighting back by playing in ITF Futures events on the other side of the world, surprising even himself with his rapid return.

He set himself a rigorous schedule of playing tournaments in Thailand and Australia.

In spite of having to play in qualifying events initially, he has won two titles (in Nonthaburi, Thailand, and Darwin, Australia) and reached at least the semi-finals of the first five events he played in.

He completes his tour with a couple of tournaments in Adelaide before flying home towards the end of the month.

"Having had so many setbacks in the last 18 months, I would definitely say that when this comeback started, I would have really struggled to regroup if I had had another setback without getting a decent run at it," he admits.

"Obviously now, that decent run is well and truly under way. My target at the start of the trip was really just to try and get around 30 matches under my belt without any real setback.

"I would then really start to judge and evaluate my performances after these matches. As it has turned out, I have played and won way more matches than I expected to and both my physical and mental health has rocketed. I am way ahead of a previously estimated schedule.

"To win two titles in five weeks has just been fantastic for the confidence. But more importantly, all these wins have led to even more matches which has increased my court time, which is exactly what I need.

"My success in the last two events will probably be determined by how much I can recharge the batteries before they start."

Baker's ranking has risen 250 places - now at 555 - and is set to go higher in the weeks ahead.
After returning home, Baker intends to step up a level to Challenger events and will head to America in what is proving a pivotal year for the player.

"My coach Keith Reynolds has been out here with me through Thailand and Darwin. He has been absolutely vital in this speedy return to very good form on the court," he explains.

"He has flown back to the UK so I am doing the last two tournaments by myself. Keith and I will join up for another trip at the end of this month.

"That will be in the US for some Challengers, which is a level up from what I have been playing the last few months.

"Financially, things are very tight. Prize money does not cover the cost of my programme, especially when I am not playing!

"I get big financial support towards my programme from the LTA. Without this money, I could not currently afford to employ the services of Keith."

Baker had not set himself any targets before he left apart from getting back to match fitness and he knows there is still work to be done.

“I feel optimistic and although it can be a bit depressing losing to guys I know I’m better than, realistically it will be an eighteen to twenty-four month journey back to where I was," he outlines.

"I suppose I am a bit more relaxed since my illness but I still have the same drive and doggedness as before and I still hate losing.

“Having qualified for the Australian Open last year, ultimately I want to be back in a position where I’m touching the main tour and being in the mix for Grand Slams.

"But the way the ranking system works, you have to play for a long time to get back up to that kind of level. That’s the goal though."

RM
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