‘Unbelievable’ run for Baker is finally ended

German Philipp Kohlschreiber halted Baker’s remarkable two-month odyssey in Europe which has taken the American from the low of a ranking outside the top 200 to a new career pinnacle of the second week at Wimbledon.

A 6-1 7-6 (7/4) 6-3 success for Kohlschreiber over Baker was an impressive performance by the Switzerland-based 28-year-old, who until this fortnight had not gone beyond the third round at Wimbledon.

Kohlschreiber’s triumph – at his eighth Wimbledon – will see him face Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

For Baker there was time to take stock of his achievements.

The 27-year-old, back on the grand slam scene after almost six years off tour, is heading for a top-100 ranking next week.

He had five operations and took a job as an assistant tennis coach at Belmont University in his native Nashville. At this time last year he did not possess a ranking at all.

Baker said: “It’s been an unbelievable run. I can’t be too upset about that, even though I am definitely pretty frustrated right now – to get that far and not feel like I played my best match.”