Mardy Fish Overcomes Isner and Heat in Atlanta
After enduring the scorching Atlanta Heat, a new trimmed-down and improved Mardy Fish outlasted John Isner on Sunday 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) in the final of the Atlanta Tennis Championships. Winning earlier in the month in Newport, Fish has now won two straight tournaments and 10 straight matches, both new personal bests. Earlier this month he won in Newport.
With the on-court temperature near 65 C, both players were put to the test with the match lasting two hours and 45 minutes. After the match, Fish needed an IV after was suffering from dehydration and admitted he "sort of went into a lower body cramp with both legs."
Fish also admitted that a year ago he would not stand a chance against Isner, especially in the Atlanta heat. Having lost 30 pounds after having knee surgery last year, Fish credits his new-found fitness for the improvements in his game.
"It's night and day," Fish said. "A year ago I would have fallen over in the second set probably, or probably played a match to where I knew physically I couldn't last so I needed to change my tactics. I just simply don't have to do that anymore."
Isner, who was a college star at the University of Georgia, also admitted to having troubles with the Atlanta Heat and playing at the nearby University in the past was no advantage.
"The first hour it was the hottest," Isner said. "It took a lot out of both of us. I don't think I've ever played in conditions this hot and humid and rough like this."
Isner, who had to play through the heat during day matches, had the unlucky schedule, as Fish drew evening matches in the tournament. Isner would not admit if the schedule favoured Fish in the long run.
"It's hard to say," Isner said. "You could make a case that it took a toll on me. You could make a case that it was a disadvantage to him because he wasn't used to it."
However, Isner is certainly no stranger to playing in difficult conditions, having won a marathon match against Nicolas Mahut in Wimbledon last month. After winning the 183-game match that stretched over three days, Isner has found a new celebrity status with several appearances on TV talk shows and admits that he has not been spending enough time on the court.
"You want to win this tournament but it was really pivotal I was able to get four matches under my belt," Isner said. "I had other things I was doing because of that stupid Wimbledon match I played."
Inser, who had the support of the Atlanta crowd with many Bulldogs fans barking in their Georgia caps and shirts, could not overcome dropping the first four points in the tiebreak in the third set. Although he came close by winning the next three points, he could not pull even and dropped the following three points to end the match. Isner is now 1-3 in finals for the year.
"It's disappointing," he said. "I've made four finals this year and I've lost my last three, all in three sets. That's tough to swallow but it hasn't stopped me from progressing."
Fish also admitted that a quick start in the tiebreak would be crucial due to the conditions.
"I knew the way we were both feeling a good start in the tiebreaker was going to be huge,"
Fish who is currently ranked 49th in the world was the 6th seed in Atlanta. In his first four matches in the tournament, Fish did not drop a set including his semifinal win against top seed and good friend Andy Roddick. However on Sunday, it was Isner the No. 2 seed in the tournament who started strong by winning the opening set 6-4. Fish then turned the tables in the second set by winning by the same score. After Fish and Isner both took turns breaking each others serve early in the third to make it 3-3, both managed to hold serve for the remainder of the third set to set up the tiebreaker and the eventual win for Fish.
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