2011 French Open: Mardy Fish rallies past Ricardo Mello into the second round
America’s top ranked player Mardy Fish survived a second set scare to defeat world number 89 Ricardo Mello of Brazil in four sets 6-2, 6-7(11), 6-2, 6-4 in the opening round of French Open at Roland Garros on Monday. The match lasted for three hours and five minutes.
Fish had a good start as he broke Mello twice in the opening set, winning it 6-2. The American fired three aces and 50 percent of the first serves in the opening set, clinching a whopping 90 percent of the points on them. The right-handed hit ten winners and made seven unforced errors. On the other hand, Mello was able to hit just five winners in the first set. The Brazilian failed in saving two of the five break points he faced in the opening set.
Mello took the early lead in the second set, breaking Fish in the second game and holding his serve in the next game to go ahead 3-0. However, the American broke back in the eighth game to tie the score at 4-4. The set went to a tie-break and Mello grabbed a late mini-break, winning it 13-11. Fish served poorly as he delivered a meagre 42 percent of the first serves, converting 72 percent of them into points in the second set. The American could not save the only break point he faced in the second set.
After losing a close second set, Fish fought back and thrashed his opponent in the third set. The 29-year-old lost just two games, breaking the Brazilian three times to grab the set 6-2. The American kept his first serve percentage at 71 percent and captured 80 percent of the points on the first serve in the third set. The six feet and two inches tall converted 54 percent of the returns into points in the third set. Fish failed to save the only break point he faced but compensated that by capitalizing on three of the six break point opportunities he created in the third set.
The fourth set went with serve until the seventh game, when the American broke Mello and took a 4-3 lead. The Florida resident consolidated on the break of serve and served out the set in the tenth game, clinching it 6-4. Fish hit eight winners and committed ten unforced errors. On the other hand, Mello managed to hit just five winners and committed fifteen unforced errors in the fourth set. The Brazilian saved eight of the nine break points and did not receive any break point on Fish’s serve in the fourth set.
Fish is slated to play either world number 55 Daniel Gimeno-Traver of Spain or Dutch Robin Haase, ranked 54th in the world, in the second round.
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