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By Jamie Baker

September 2005:

THIS month heralded the start of a few new chapters in my year. After training hard in Stirling for three weeks, it was time to get back to playing. It was the first time I had competed in the UK since early April and my initial two tournaments were the first in which I had weightlifted during the event.

Nottingham Tennis Centre, my training base, was the venue for both tournaments. This was probably the last time I will play outdoors until next year. Earlier in the season, my post-training block experience was quite a testing one. Having worked myself into the ground for four weeks in January, it took me several weeks to put in an encouraging performance on the match court. I distinctly remember being beaten comfortably in two consecutive matches in Croatia.

This time around, my training block has been slightly shorter and my team and I made some adjustments to give me the best opportunity of performing well within a shorter period of time. During these two weeks of competition, my trainer and I decided that I would continue with my strength sessions in the gym. Eighty per cent of the time, this is impossible on the Futures circuit because of the lack of equipment.

So, because of the convenience of circumstances, this was too good an opportunity to miss. On the positive side, I managed to complete all my strength sessions and win four matches during the two weeks, reaching the quarter-finals of both tournaments. On the negative side, I lost to the same person — Josh Goodall — both weeks, with below-par performances.

Taking time out of competition to train and then training heavily during it is, without doubt, an investment for the future. However, that does not stop me from wanting to win every match I play. It is very frustrating to feel in improved physical shape but to know that it has not instantly transferred into my game. The most positive aspect of the two weeks was the fact that I was able to find a way of winning four matches as opposed to losing my first two, which is what happened after my previous training block.

During the first week in Nottingham I was told that I had been picked as the fifth player in the Great Britain Davis Cup squad for the tie against Switzerland. This came as an instant confidence boost — it is great to know that the progress I have made recently has been noticed. To be part of the same team as Greg Rusedski and Andy Murray and to be around the likes of Roger Federer is a wonderful opportunity to improve my game.

To read the full article go to : http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,5205-1794587,00.html