Fish Looking Good for Home Grand Slam
Mardy Fish is looking good as an outside bet to win the United States Open at the end of this month after some impressive wins in recent tournaments.
Fish's win at the International Hall of Fame Championships means that he has now won singles titles on all surfaces in tennis. The manner in which he has recently been playing has attracted a lot of attention from pundits in the sport.
These pundits say that the hard courts used in the US Open could suit Fish's power game and it's important for him to keep his current run of form going if he wants to have any chance of upsetting the field at the last Grand Slam of the season.
It's important to look at the attributes that Fish has displayed in recent times that make him a good bet for success on the next level. It's also important to consider all of the external factors that will help him if he wants to win in his home Grand Slam.
His Game
Fish's game is based very much on pace and power and these are two things that he has used to his advantage in recent times. His win at the Hall of Fame Championship proved that his game is much too powerful for average players to cope with.
He also looked a lot fitter during this tournament and this is one of the main areas that many people have said he can improve on. It gives him a much better chance of being able to compete in longer matches against tough opponents. He needs to keep working hard on his fitness if he wants any chance of winning a Grand Slam.
He seems to have utilised his first serve well and can mix it up on different surfaces. His instinct is to put as much power as he can through the ball and this will suit him on the hard surfaces of the USA.
Fish said after the Hall of Fame tournament victory: "It means a lot to win on every surface in my career - indoor, outdoor, hard, clay and now grass. I've certainly lost a lot of heartbreak finals, and it feels good to win one."
External Factors
It's important to consider what is going to work in Fish's favour at the US Open if he is going to win it. He will obviously benefit from the home support, which is something that can often level the playing field in terms of quality between opponents.
If an American crowd can be very hostile and intimidating towards the player that Fish is playing against then it can allow him to dominate. Even if this player is Rafa Nadal or Roger Federer. Weaker players have gone on to win Grand Slams in the past and they have not had half of the ability that Fish possesses.
Betting Advice
At this moment in time Fish is a very good outside bet and nothing more. There will be much stronger favourites to win the US Open and he needs to have the tournament of his life if he is going to cash in on his recent form and win the event. It's possible but he needs to stay fit and produce the consistency that has won him previous tournaments.
Many people won't even bother considering him and the safer option could be to take each of his games as they happen. You will be able to back him to beat weaker opponents and judge his form as he goes. This is important because you can judge his chance of beating the better players in the world.
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