Brian Baker: Being back on court helps the psyche

Brian Baker, Special for USA TODAY Sports | USATODAY

I am slowly starting to feel my leg muscles again. I don't normally say this, but it was nice to have some soreness in my legs this past week. I've been pushing my knee a little more and have been able to do some light squats and lunges.

In addition, I've been running a few miles every other day on the anti-gravity treadmill at 75% weight bearing. My doctor has basically cleared me to do all exercises that are linear in nature (just no lateral cutting). I'm sure I will feel like I've gained 50 pounds (the anti-gravity treadmill makes you feel awesome), but hopefully I can transition to normal running in a week or so.

Getting back on the tennis court has been a blast. Just rallying back and forth has done wonders for my mental psyche. I've been limiting my hitting time to about 30 minutes a day and keeping my daily serve count to around 25. When I'm able to hit the ball with normal form and technique, I'll start playing and serving much more. My timing really hasn't been that bad, so I'm hopeful that once I'm cleared without restrictions, I will get back to form quickly.

I was disappointed like most tennis fans with the TV coverage for the end of the Sony Open final between Andy Murray and David Ferrer. I understand that CBS paid hundreds of millions of dollars for the NCAA coverage, but a tiebreaker doesn't take that much time. Also, Tennis Channel needed to be ready to go and not miss the first couple points of the decisive breaker.

I can't say I've seen too many more physical two-out-of-three-set matches in my life. It's not every day you see David Ferrer cramp! Tennis is becoming more physical every year, and sometimes it seems more like a fitness battle than a skill battle. I'm sure a lot of guys are looking forward to the clay to take a break from all the hardcourt pounding (maybe not for the Americans).

I'll finish with a prediction for the NCAA tournament. I'm going with Louisville over Syracuse. I don't think I have predicted anything right in this blog but maybe this will stop the streak. I just think Louisville has the ability to win in the most ways and the team will be extra motivated for their injured teammate Kevin Ware.

— Brian