Brian Baker outlasts Radek Stepanek to reach second round – Swiss Indoors Basel 2012
American comeback hero, Brian Baker, bounced back after tamely losing the opener to beat former top 10 player, Radek Stepanek, in three sets 2-6, 7-6(5), 6-3 in the first round of the Swiss Indoors in Basel. The American player
needed two hours and 37 minutes to oust his rival after a close match.
Stepanek made an ideal start, breaking Baker in the very first game and holding his following serve to attain a 2-0 lead. The Czech contender hit another blow to Baker in the seventh and capitalised on the double advantage to seal
it 6-2.
The 33-year-old hit four aces and 65 percent of the first serves, winning 16 of the 22 points on them. The Monte-Carlo resident was flawless on the second returns, as he amazingly grabbed all the five points on them. The right-hander
also put away all the five break threats he came across and converted two of the three chances he received in the opener.
Things got tougher for Baker, as he lost his serve twice in the opening three games of the second set, getting in a deficit of 0-3. Though, the American player struck back twice in the following five games, winning four of the
five to even out the proceedings at 4-4. Rest of the set went with serves, equalising the score at 6-6 and taking it to a tie-breaker. Stepanek had victory in his sights, when he started with a 3-0 lead but Baker made a stunning comeback, claiming seven of
the next eight points to win 7-6(5).
The American national did not have any stellar serve statistics, as he banged in just two aces and 63 percent of the first serves, capturing 17 of the 25 points on them. However, the 6ft 3in tall player did good stuff on the second
deliveries and returns, as he secured nine of the 15 and seven of the 11 points on them respectively.
Baker and Stepanek traded a single break of serve in the first six games of the decider to take the score to 3-3. The American player grabbed three successively later on to triumph 6-3.
The world number 57 will face either Juan Martin Del Potro or Alejandro Falla in the second round.
Tags: