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By Jamie Baker

October 2005:

FROM the high of my Davis Cup experience in Geneva, it was back to reality with a $10,000 Futures event in Edinburgh. This would be the first in a block of nine British indoor tournaments for me. Playing in Edinburgh meant that I was able to add to the few nights spent in my own bed this year.

I always felt that the key to my success in Edinburgh would be how quickly I could get my head back down to business after the Davis Cup. I managed to do this instantly and use the feel-good factor that I had picked up while I was with the Great Britain team.

Heavy training blocks are a big part of my yearly programme and this week particularly the hard work that I had put in was evident. These were my match scores on my way to the final: first round, 6-2, 5-7, 6-3; second round, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6; quarter-final, 7-5, 5-7, 6-3; semi-final, 6-7, 6-4, 7-5.

To come through four three-set matches in succession was a great indication of where my fitness levels and mental strength are. Unfortunately I lost to Mark Hilton, the 24-year-old Englishman who has been as high as No 202 in the rankings, in the final. There is no question that my exertions in the previous rounds meant I did not have as much to give in the final as I would have liked.

After Edinburgh it was on to Bolton. Being ranked in the 300s and having reached the final the week before, these tournaments now have a slightly different feel. At the beginning of the year I was playing as a lower-ranked player and was, therefore, “the hunter”, whereas I am now one of the higher-ranked players and have, as a a result, become “the hunted”.

I think it is important that this is recognised because I know I have to be fired up to play every single match. Most players are gunning for me. This time, my route through to the semi-finals was a lot more comfortable, having to survive only the one three-set match. Standing in my way again, was Hilton.

I managed to rectify most of the mistakes I made in the final in Edinburgh and put together one of my finest performances to win 6-2, 6-2.

In the final, my good play proved too much for Ladislav Chramosta, my Czech opponent. I won 6-3, 6-2 to win my first British title and catapult my ranking up to 381. I feel that I have made the absolute most of my Davis Cup experience and there is no doubt that this has been a huge factor in my latest improvement and surge up the rankings.

To read the full article go to : http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,175-1847875,00.html