Alexandr Dolgopolov tops Tommy Haas to win Citi Open title

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The devoted fans that stuck around after two rain delays to watch the men’s final at the Citi Open were treated to an emotion-filled three set marathon.

Neither player had dropped a set all week, and it was fourth-seeded Tommy Haas who took the first set. But Alexandr Dolgopolov, playing in Washington, D.C. for the first time, kept his composure and won 6-7(7), 6-4, 6-1 in front of an appreciative crowd.

Alexandr Dolgopolov, left, poses with his champion's trophy along with runner-up Tommy Haas. (Photo by Kelyn Soong

The 23-year-old Ukrainian employed his arsenal of shots against the veteran Haas, who grew visibly frustrated as the match went on. Haas, a citizen of both Germany and the United States, yelled obscenities in his native tongue, threw his racquet and chastised the chair umpire for not getting the ball kids to clean a wet spot.

Even the normally stoic Dolgopolov muttered to himself in frustration, revealing just how much the match meant to him. Dolgopolov’s lone title came in Umag last year and this is his first ATP 500-level championship.

At the Citi Open, Dolgopolov’s unique and aggressive style gave players fits. He likened his daredevil technique to his off-court personality, where he enjoys drag racing and isn’t afraid take the stage for a rap performance.

Back into the top 20, Dolgopolov’s early season injuries appear to be behind him. If he plays like he did this week, he can continue to make opposing players lose their cool, just as the 34-year-old Haas did on the cloudy Sunday night in the nation’s capital.

Congratulations on the victory. We spoke a couple days ago and you said this season has been “average” so far. Does this win make it more than that?

“Yeah, for sure. Now it’s changed a lot. I need to try to [use] that momentum. I reached the semis [in Umag], I won this tournament – it’s really great. It’s a great achievement for me, and I hope I can use my confidence to build it up for the Masters series to come and then the U.S. Open. I’m going to be a high seed for Cincinnati and then the U.S. Open and I hope I can take advantage of that.”

How does this win compare to your first ATP title in Umag last year?

“I think it’s bigger because last year I came to Umag, I was around No. 20, and I didn’t really need the points. Now, I was struggling a bit. I lost in Umag. I had a lower seeding in every tournament. It’s big to come back into the top 20 and just get the momentum and just be confident going into the Masters series and the U.S. Open.”

Is this win any consolation for not being able to play in the Olympics?

“Yeah, for sure. I’m happy I played here, but I still I wanted the Olympics. I can’t say if it’s good or bad. I’m happy just to win the title. I don’t think the events are connected.”

This was your first time playing Tommy Haas in a competitive setting. What did you think of his game?

“His game is really tough to play. I had to really stay confident. He’s really early on the ball. He attacks a lot. You know if he goes to the net, he’s not going to miss any shots, so you really have to pass him. You know you have to keep him on the baseline and try to get back his shots, because he can attack from any side of the court. He can serve well. You just know that you have to stay there all the time to beat the guy.”

Do you think you’re back to where your game was before you got injured?

“I can’t say it’s back to last year. I’ve adjusted something to my game. I’m getting better I hope. I played good in Brisbane. I played good in Australia. I got injured there. It’s pretty much up and down…I’m happy with the way I’m playing, and I think I can go higher.”

Talk about your relationship with your coach, Jack Reader.

“He’s a friend of mine off-court. We talk a lot away from tennis. We enjoy working together. He got to work with me when I was already a [professional player], so he had to adjust to that. It’s good that he understands my game and how I should play. I think that’s really big because [my] game is a bit unique. I think he’s doing a really good job. We’re both happy with what we’re doing.

“I started with him in 2009, but he couldn’t travel with me that time because I was [ranked] 300. He got me up [in ranking]. He got me injury-free. I can’t say he coached my game from the start because my father coached me for more than 15 years. But he’s done a really good job to add all the other things I was lacking to get into the top 100, top 50. We’re trying to go higher, so I think we’ve done a good job in these two years.”

Who else do you travel with?

“Sometimes my parents come out. My sister, my whole family was there at the U.S. Open. They were at Paris this year. Sometimes I can afford to take a girl with me. I had a girlfriend for half a year. We split up in Australia. It always changes, but my family tries to come and support me. Mostly it’s just me and Jack.”

Who’s the first person you call after a big win like this?

“Jack is usually around. If not, then I contact my parents, my family. Then all my friends congratulate me, maybe some girls [laughs]. Just the people who really care about it.”

I read in your ATP bio that you enjoy car racing. What aspect of it? Do you actually race?

“Yeah, I race myself. I went to the Ukrainian drag race championships last year. I have a fast car. I really enjoy it. It’s my big hobby. Ever since I was a kid I liked cars. Not fancy cars, just fast cars. I don’t need a million dollar car, but I enjoy the speed.”

If you could pick or perform a song to sum up this week, what would it be?

“Well Coolio is my best song that I sing in the karaoke. That’s the first one, but comparing to this week, I don’t know. I need to think of the words in the song. You gave me a tough one. I don’t have an answer for that.”

This article was written for EmiratesUSOpen.com and can be viewed here.
 

Haas turning back the clock at Citi Open

Former world No. 2 Haas is into his first final in Washington, D.C., where he will take on 23-year-old phenom Alexander Dolgopolov

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tommy Haas is the last person to defeat Roger Federer and is playing far beyond his world No. 36 ranking.

Haas, a former world No. 2, has not dropped a set en route to reaching the finals at the Citi Open, where he will take on second-seeded Alexandr Dolgopolov.

It is the 34-year-old Haas’ seventh time playing in the Washington, D.C. tournament but first appearance in the title round. He has now reached the finals on three surfaces – grass, clay and hard court, all of which occurred in the last two months.

“When I first started playing tennis, I didn’t even think I would still be playing professional tennis at age 34,” Haas said. “The limit was 30, 31 maybe…But at this point and time, I don’t really look at how old I am. As long as you’re fit and you enjoy playing the game, I think there’s still a lot of damage you can do sometimes.”

Haas is guaranteed to move into the top 30 regardless of whether he wins or loses in the final and can reach as high as world No. 20 if he wins.

Top seed Mardy Fish lost to Haas 6-3, 7-5 in the semifinals and was impressed by his good friend’s game.

“He’s certainly back to playing the way a lot of the fans like watching him play, including myself,” Fish said. “The guy was No. 2 in the world, he knows what he’s doing on the court…so no disgrace to lose to someone like that.”

Dolgopolov, who is 11 years younger than Haas, is also playing some of his best tennis.

The 23-year-old Ukrainian, ranked No. 25 in the world, has not lost a set and dismissed the eighth seed, Sam Querrey, in the semifinals 6-4, 6-4.

His quick, spin-filled serve and attacking style gave Querrey trouble all match.

Haas has never played Dolgopolov in an ATP match, but understands how challenging his unorthodox, go-for-broke game can be.

“He’s obviously a very dangerous player,” Haas said. “You don’t know what to expect. [He has] a lot of fire power, a lot of crazy shots.”

Dolgopolov is playing in Washington, D.C. for the first time and has turned around his subpar season this week at Citi Open. It is first ATP 500 level finals and win or lose, he will move up to world No. 16, three spots off his career high ranking.

“I need to show my best game – to attack and make a lot of winners,” Dolgopolov said, when asked what he needs to do to beat Haas. “I’m not going to play slow. He’s attacking a lot as well. I think it’s going to be a tight game.”

Regardless of who wins, Citi Open will have a new name to add to the stadium court banners.

[4] Tommy Haas’ road to the finals:

1^st Round: Defeated [Q] Michael Russell 6-4, 6-2

2^nd Round: Defeated Leonardo Mayer 6-4, 7-5

Quarterfinals: Defeated Tobias Kamke 6-1, 6-2

Semifinals: Defeated [1] Mardy Fish 6-3, 7-5

[2] Alexandr Dolgopolov’s road to the finals:

1^st Round: Defeated Flavio Cipolla 6-1, 6-3

2^nd Round: Defeated Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo 6-1, 6-3

Quarterfinals: Defeated James Blake 7-6(3), 6-4

Semifinals: Defeated [8] Sam Querrey 6-4, 6-4

This article was published for EmiratesUSOpenSeries.com and can be viewed here.
 

Get to know ATP Coach Craig Boynton

Boynton, a former coach of Jennifer Capriati and Pete Sampras, has taken John Isner to new heights and guided James Blake’s successful Citi Open run

WASHINGTON, D.C. – With his star pupil, John Isner, playing in the London Olympics, famed tennis coach Craig Boynton decided to tag along with James Blake to the Citi Open.

Craig Boynton is working with James Blake this week at the Citi Open.

The 48-year-old Boynton, who resides in Tampa, Fl., chose a good tournament to join Blake. The American had his best results of the season, losing to second-seeded Alexandr Dolgopolov in the quarterfinals.

Many hall of fame players have stopped by Boynton’s academy, Saddlebrook Tennis, to train throughout the years, including three-time Grand Slam champion and recent HOF inductee Jennifer Capriati and four-time major winner and Davis Cup captain Jim Courier.

Boynton’s primary responsibility now is Isner, who he began coaching in March 2009. Since then, Isner has become a tennis folk hero for his epic 70-68 fifth set victory at the 2010 Wimbledon, defeated both Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic and earned a spot in the top 10.

The long hours and constant travel has not diminished the former touring pro’s passion for tennis, and he looks forward to coaching Isner and Blake to continued success this summer hard-court season.

What’s your current coaching situation? I know you’re coaching John Isner, and you’re here with James Blake as well.

John and James are best of friends. The situation is I’m primarily John’s coach, first and foremost. But when they play at the same tournaments, I’ll help James also with the time I’m not with John.

John being over at the Olympics and working with [USTA coaches] Jay Berger and Mike Sell, I was available this week. So naturally I came up with James.

James seems to be playing with a lot of confidence lately. What have you guys been working on specifically?

James has got one way to play, and I’ve just been reinforcing that that’s the way he has to play…James’ game is going to be determined by how healthy he is. Right now his legs are under him. He can move. James’ speed is one of his biggest assets…and obviously playing without pain is a lot fun. It’s key.

You said he has got one way to play – what did you mean by that?

Just [be] aggressive. He’s got to take balls early. He’s got to look to finish. He can’t let the ball sit. He’s got to create chaos. If there’s an opening there, he’s got to go after it. So it might look like redline tennis from a casual observer, but that’s just the way James plays the best.

John Isner is having a break out year. What’s been the key to his success?

It really started at the end of last year at the Masters series in Paris. The way he was playing was a bit of a glimpse to the future of his capability…He believes he can do it…He’s established the fact that nobody wants to play him, and [it’s] just going out and playing big man tennis.

James Blake talked about the camaraderie he has with the American players. From your perspective, why are they so close?

From as a far back as I can remember, the U.S. guys always really got along well. It’s a close-knit society, maybe a fraternity if you well…They’re all just really good, nice guys…Anyone of these guys you’d want to have as neighbors…John and James are great people – they just happen to be great tennis players.

I think every generation behind them sees that. It’s how you build tradition. If someone is getting out of line, someone in the group sets them straight.

What about the generation before them? Why do you think there was more of a distance?

Andre [Agassi] and Jim [Courier] were pretty close. Andre, Pete [Sampras] and Jim were vying for world No. 1 at some point. It wasn’t like they weren’t friendly, but they didn’t want to give too much away. They would talk in the locker room and enjoy [each other’s] company. They weren’t as close as the group now, but they were friendly.

Talk about a typical match day versus a typical non-match day.

Non-match days at home are one thing. A non-match day on the road is generally a day off between matches. If everything is clicking, you just go out and hit a few balls to keep your timing. If there’s something specific that needs work, you throw work at that. 

Match day is warming up and eating around your match time. You warm up, stay relax, go over the game plan and execute the game plan. And depending on what time you finish, [you get] food and cool down. It’s a real big process.

What other players have you coached?

I’ve coached Courier in the 90s. I’ve worked with Alex Kutznetsov [and] Jeff Morrison. I’ve traveled a little bit with [Jennifer] Capriati. I’ve traveled a couple weeks with Pete [Sampras].

I also worked with Mardy Fish a couple years ago. Through Saddlebrook I was working with Mardy full-time, and then Mardy moved to Los Angeles. Then I started with John [Isner] full time [in March 2009], then with James [Blake] these past few weeks.

How is life on tour different as a coach compared to as a player?

Well there’s a lot more pressure as a player obviously. Our job in comparison to everything is a lot easier than what they do. [Coaches] help manage them, help them be their eyes, understand their good habits and bad habits and keep clarity of the game plan.

You may only have to do real work a few minutes of the day, but that few minutes can help keep the train on the rails. I don’t mind the travel. We get along well. The hardest part is probably being away from the family. But the family understands that I’m doing what I love.

What is your advice for rising juniors and kids picking up the sport?

I would get around good people that know the game, that have a clear plan, a clear vision for what you ultimately want to do with your talent. And just to plan your work and work your plan.

You can get caught up a lot in rankings and ranking points, but you really need to set aside time to develop…Once you get to the [professional] level that is the fruit of all the work that you’ve done…I think that’s kind of been lost a little bit. There might be a guy that’s No. 8 in the country that has a higher upside than the guy who’s No. 1. It’s just working on the God-given talents that you have and just get to being the best you can be.

John [Isner] is a great example of that. He was always second or third tier in juniors. He got to Georgia and didn’t really start doing anything until his junior year. And then, he kind of hit the ground running.

This article was written for EmiratesUSOpenSeries.com and can be viewed here.
 

Citi Open: 10 Questions with Alexandr Dolgopolov

The former world No. 13 talks about visiting Washington, D.C., his affinity for karaoke, the Olympics and more

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The nation’s capital finally got to witness the unorthodox style Alexandr Dolgopolov brings to the tennis court this week.

The second-seeded Ukrainian, who has a career high of world No. 13, is playing in the Washington, D.C. tournament for the first time and is a fan favorite for his unique play and easy-going demeanor.

After battling through injuries and illness early this season, the 23-year-old Dolgopolov appears to be finding his game. He reached the semifinals in Croatia last month and will play James Blake in the quarterfinals at Citi Open.

Despite his struggles on court, Dolgopolov always appears to be having a good time due to his unassuming attitude.

Visit his hometown of Kiev and there’s a good chance you’ll find the world No. 25 singing karaoke with his friends. But right now it’s all business for Dolgopolov, as he attempts to win his first title of the year.

This is your first time playing in Washington, D.C. What have you enjoyed most about this area?

“Well, pretty much winning matches [laughs]. It’s a nice city. It’s clean. It’s something different from most of the U.S. cities. You don’t see big skyscrapers and…[there are] museums. Everything is comfortable too.”

Have you been able to explore or go out in the city?

“We were supposed to go to the Air and Space Museum, but yesterday I banged my foot. It was not too good to walk a lot today. We haven’t [visited] it yet, but maybe we’ll have a chance to do it later.”

You play James Blake next and you beat him in your only matchup [New Haven in 2010]. How do you think you matchup against him?

“If I play good I will have a good chance. I played well the first two rounds, but of course he’s going to be [a] more dangerous opponent. He can hit the ball well, and he moves well. So I have to make him uncomfortable on those shots and not let him risk too much and make too much winners.”

Who are you closest to on the ATP Tour?

“I wouldn’t say I’m closer to someone more than others. Probably the Russian guys because it’s easier with the language. But mostly I’m friendly with everyone, and we can have a talk every now and then.”

I saw the video of you rapping at the ATP Vegeta Croatia Open in Umag. It was pretty impressive.

“We just had some fun there. We just decided to do it and thought it would be cool. I think it was nice.”

Do you perform other songs or is that your go-to routine?

“I have other songs. I sing karaoke when I come home to Kiev. Some rap songs, some not rap songs…Eminem, Coolio, Elton John, whatever. There are a lot of songs I do. Maroon 5. Russian songs. There are probably 30-40 songs I’ve tried. That’s just a hobby.”

We’re three-quarters into the season. Can you assess how your 2012 has been so far?

“Well I can’t tell you that because if you play one or two good tournaments it can change totally. It was up and down. I’ve had injuries. I can’t say it’s bad, but it was not where my goals were. I’m still working. I’m playing well now. Hopefully I’ll get some good results here in the U.S. Then afterwards I have a lot of tournaments to play. If I’m healthy, and I keep up my form then I think I can improve my season. We’ll see. For now, it’s average I would say.”

You mentioned your health. You had injuries earlier this year and you struggle with Gilbert’s Syndrome (a liver condition that often causes fatigue.) How are you feeling now?

“I’m feeling great now. I had a little bit of a knee problem after the Australia Open. Then I got the flu, and then in Rome I got some illness with my stomach. It was always some small things, but [I] had to rest for a week or 10 days…so that’s a lot of points and tournaments. Now I’m feeling well. I’ve been playing good in Umag, I’m playing good now, so hopefully if nothing disturbs me or happens, I’ll be just getting better.”

Who were your idols growing up?

“I wouldn’t say I had one. I was not an idol person…My Dad was probably the person who gave me the most in life. He was teaching me tennis, he was teaching me off-court, but I wouldn’t say I had one particular idol.”

If you could play one sport in the Olympics that wasn’t tennis, what would it be?

“That’s a tough question. I don’t know. I’ve never thought about that. I’ve played tennis since three, so I never thought about other sports. I don’t want anything else [laughs]. I feel good in tennis.”

Citi Open stringers prepare players for battle

Photo 1 (L-R) - David Yamane and Jay Lewandowski pose with racquets in the stringing room at the Citi Open tennis tournament. (Photo provided by Jay Lewandowski)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The players at Citi Open depend on Jay Lewandowski and his team.

Lewandowski, 36, has been the head stringer for the Washington, D.C. tournament since 2006 and knows players’ tendencies as well as anybody.

“Everybody’s particular,” he said. “Everybody knows what he or she wants. They trust us. When they have $20,000 on the line [in potential prize money], it matters. This is their weapon. If it’s not correct, they can’t perform up to their standards.”

His company, Game.Set.Match Tennis, has been involved with the Washington, D.C. tournament for the past four years and is also the official stringer for the Winston-Salem Open and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University tennis teams.

Lewandowski, of Durham, N.C. has been stringing for 21 years.

He founded his company in 2003 and brought three other stringers - Dustin Tankersley, Alan Taylor and David Yamane - to the nation’s capital to work with him this week.

The tireless foursome arrives each day at the William H.G. Fitzgerald tennis center at 7 a.m. and leaves after the last match, which sometimes runs into the early morning.

“It’s two really challenging weeks of the year, but it’s a lot of fun,” said Yamane, who works for the men’s tennis team and teaches at Wake Forest University. “There’s a camaraderie in the stringing room. It’s like you’re going into competition with your teammates.”

There is barely downtime for the team as players constantly walk into the stringing room unannounced to pick up or drop off racquets.

“You’ve got to be prepared for everything,” Lewandowski said, as doubles specialist Mark Knowles steps in the room without knocking, which is typical.

Last year, Lewandowski’s team strung around 650 racquets and he has already lost count of the amount his team has done so far this week.

Despite the small staff and constant work, Tankersley enjoys stringing at tournaments such as the Citi Open.

“I like the smaller tournaments because we get to interact with the players,” he said. “I really like the atmosphere here.”

Tankersley has been stringing racquets for 16 years and has worked around the country, including the U.S. Open since 2009.

He met Lewandowski when they both started at the then Legg Mason Tennis Classic in 2006.

Through the years and tournaments, the players have developed a comfort level with the Citi Open stringing team and interact with them regularly during the tournament, Tankersley said.

Lewandowski wagers that they have strung for 95 percent of the players that come through the Citi Open, and there’s a level of mutual respect from both sides.

“[The players] need to be comfortable and confident in us,” he said. “That is how you build rapport. They trust you with their equipment for battle on court.”

10 questions with James Blake

Former top 5 player James Blake talks about fatherhood, camaraderie with U.S. players, his potential career in politics and more at the Citi Open in Washington D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – James Blake’s face lights up at the mention of his newborn daughter, Riley. The 32-year-old became a father on June 10^th, when his fiancée, publicist Emily Snider, gave birth to the couple’s first child.

Despite Blake’s struggles on the tennis court, 2012 has been a significant year for the No. 116^th ranked American. On Nov. 9^th, he will wed Snider, with several fellow players as guests. There is no wedding party, however, as Blake did not want any “complications” or “hurt feelings.”

His 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory over fifth seed Pablo Andujar in the first round at Citi Open Monday was only his second ATP win of the year. He will play qualifier Marco Chiudinelli in the next round.

Blake’s ranking plummeted after undergoing right knee surgery last November, and he has slowly been working his way back to form.

But Blake is feeling healthy once again and is looking to make noise at the site of his first ATP Tour title 10 years ago.

Congratulations on the birth of your daughter. How has life changed since then?

“The daughter changes a lot, it changes everything. It changes for the better. It’s hard to describe. It really puts the sport in perspective, puts the rest of your life before that in perspective. It’s really been so fun.

“I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect – you hear a lot from everyone else – but until you go through it, there’s really nothing like it…I couldn’t be a prouder Dad, and I’m thrilled.”

Fatherhood is really important to you. It was a big theme in your book and since we’re on that – do you plan on writing another book in the near future?

“I kind of doubt it [laughs]. I’ve always said I hope I don’t have to write a second book. A lot of tough stuff had to happen for me to get up the reason to write the first book…If I don’t have to write a book that means things are going really well. I’d be happy not writing another book.”

This year marks the 10-year anniversary of your win in Washington, D.C. Where does that victory rank in your best tennis memories?

“It’s one of my most memorable for sure, because it was my first [ATP singles title]. It was so exciting…To come here and win singles really kind of jumpstarted my confidence…It’s just something I’ll always remember.”

Does that victory feel long ago or does it feel like just yesterday?

“I’ve had both feelings this week. I still remember that feeling so well, but I also remember what stage I was in my life then [laughs]. That seems like a lifetime ago. The crazy dreads and going out and partying a ton that night with my friends…it was definitely a different time.

“Nowadays if I win a match it’s let’s make sure the baby is asleep and get to bed early. There was nothing like that when I was 22-years-old. It seems like a long time ago when I think about that.”

What do you enjoy most about Washington, D.C.?

“I’ve really come to appreciate the fans, the fact that they still come out and cheer for me. I’ve had some great moments here, and I also had one of my toughest moments on tour here when I tried to play when I was sick in ’04. It was really tough for me, but the fans urged me on. A lot of memories here – that’s what’s exciting to me about this place.”

You’ve just had surgery on your right knee in November. What keeps you motivated to keep going?

“I love competition, that’s the biggest thing for me. I’ve set my goal in tennis when I first started, which is to have no regrets when I hang up my racquet, and I think if I had stopped right after the surgery, I would’ve had a little bit of regret. When I end my career I want to know I did it because I either didn’t have enough motivation…or just that my body wasn’t letting me compete. At this point I’m still figuring it out.”

Talk about the camaraderie of the American players. Do you think this era is closer to each other than the generations before?

“This one is very close. From the stories I’ve heard about past generations, [we’re] the closest. I really think that’s just due to the players – myself, Andy [Roddick], Mardy [Fish] – we love playing, we love competing, but we also like having fun together.

“I think part of it is maybe the guys in the generation before had so much success so young, they didn’t really go through the Challengers together. The guys today, we went through the Challengers together. That brings on a sense of camaraderie, the fact that you’re all in this together, and that never changed.

“Mardy, Andy, and [John] Isner are all coming to my wedding. They’re all going to be friends forever whether or not I ever win another match, and that’s something that’s special to us. I hope it carries on to the next generation of players too, and I feel like it has already.”

I read that you’re into politics. It’s an election year, have you been following it?

“To be honest, I find it tougher to follow these days because of the stark contrast out there. There’s such a divisive feeling in politics, and it’s a little disheartening…It almost seems difficult to get a straight answer or just a news story.

“I think it’s unfortunate that politics is becoming something where you’re just trying to make sure someone else fails instead of compromise…It seems like now people are too worried about being reelected instead of worrying about what’s best for the country. I feel like that’s just not the way to do politics.

“I know that it’s a simple approach, you know, I’m a dumb jock spouting off about politics, but it’s frustrating following it when you like to see a lot more compromise.”

Does that turn you off from potentially entering into politics?

“[Laughs] I don’t know. I still don’t know what’s going to happen after I’m done playing. If I ever felt like I really could make a difference, and I was the best person for the job, then I think it could be interesting, and I would love to be a part of it. But it’s not something that’s immediately interesting to me.”

What tournaments are you playing in next?

“I’m playing in Cincinnati, Winston-Salem and the U.S. Open.”

This article was published for EmiratesUSOpenSeries.com. View the original article here.

Success has not meant complacency for Baker

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The stadium court crowd at the Citi Open became increasingly boisterous as Brian Baker, whose comeback story has captivated tennis fans all year, fought to survive in the third set.

The crowd support, however, was not enough for Baker, 27, to pull through with a victory.

After easing through the first set 6-4, Baker dropped the last two sets 6-3, 6-4, to his lower ranked opponent, Florent Serra, who qualified late Sunday for the 32-player event.

"All summer I’ve played clean matches, [where I’ve] still been able to be aggressive at times where I should, but today was definitely not my day," he said.

Baker, ranked world No. 78, has hit a dry spell since qualifying for the main draw and reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon, having lost in the first round at all three tournaments he has entered so far this summer – Atlanta, Los Angeles and now Washington, D.C.

Baker, who was forced to take six years off from tennis due to a series of surgeries, did not blame the loss on his physical health.

"Fitness-wise, I was fine today. It wasn’t an issue," he said. "I definitely took some time off after Wimbledon, had some aches and pains. But it hasn’t been a physical aspect of it, just been maybe more the mental aspect coming back after such a high, and then starting over."

Not playing qualifying rounds has also been an issue for Baker, who has played well when having to qualify for events.

"If you get through qualies and your body holds up and you haven’t had grueling matches in qualies, I think it helps just because you’ve already played competitive matches on the courts, and you’re used to the surroundings a bit more," Baker said. "But it’s not something I want to do just to get matches."

Baker has not played a full tournament schedule since 2005 and began the year ranked outside the top 450.

He was awarded a wild card to the French Open – where he reached the second round – based on his performance on the USTA Pro Circuit, and took the momentum into the grass court season, culminating in a career-high ranking of world No. 76 earlier this summer.

The success, however, has not meant complacency for Baker.

"I’ve missed six years of my career, I’ve had enough time off," he said. "I’m still definitely hungry and still think I have a lot to prove."

A native of Nashville, Tenn., Baker had a few familiar faces in the crowd supporting him.

"I’ve always enjoyed coming [to Washington, D.C.]," Baker said. "The crowds have always been favorable for me. My sister just lives halfway between here and Baltimore so it’s nice to have her be able to come down. I have some cousins here as well. I always enjoy coming to this tournament. I haven’t always played my best here, but I hope that changes in the future."

Baker, who is traveling part time with Jim Madrigal, the head tennis coach at Belmont University, will take the next week off before resuming his comeback tour in Cincinnati, Winston-Salem and then the US Open.

This article was published for EmiratesUSOpenSeries.com, who I will be covering the Citi Open tournament for all week. View the original article here.