Former junior standout Brian Baker upsets fourth-seeded Izak Van der Merwe, 6-2, 6-3, in the second round of the $50,000 USTA Knoxville Challenger. Baker, 26, turned pro at age 18 after reaching the final of the Roland Garros juniors, but has been beset by injuries. He missed three seasons after having Tommy John surgery in February of 2008 and is only playing his fourth tournament of the year. He’s also had hip surgery.
"I mean, you dedicate so much time and have some success, it's not something that it's easy to put the racquets up and try something else," Baker, currently No. 666, told the Knoxville News. "I figured if it doesn't work out, I can always go back (to school). I don't want to wait till I'm 30 if I can't play to go get my degree. I figured I was healthy enough (to play). The main surgeries that I've had are feeling pretty good, and I just decided, 'Let's give it a go. If it works out, awesome, let's go as long as I can, and if it doesn't, go back and finish up (school) and do something else."