Mardy Fish crashes out by Michael Russell in round two – US Men’s Clay Court Championships 2012
Top seed, Mardy Fish, was edged out by his qualifying compatriot, Michael Russell, with a breadstick at the US Men’s Clay Court Championships 2012 on Thursday. He suffered a 3-6, 1-6 shock at the hands of the world number 136 in the second round of this
ATP World Tour 250 series event held in Houston, Texas.
The American number one displayed drastic performance throughout this one hour and 14-minute venture and ultimately tumbled out from his opening round match at this clay court event.
Russell on the other end overpowered the Fish for the first time in their third encounter. As a result, the Houston resident not only avenged his defeat at the Newport ATP event two years ago but also cruised into the quarter-finals.
The world number nine, Fish, made a sluggish start at the River Oaks Country Club and trailed early on in the set. Despite capitalising on one out of two break chances, Fish lost his serve again and eventually endured a 3-6 loss. He spilled more errors and
clobbered a poor first serve share of 55 per cent as compared to his fellow citizen’s 66 per cent.
The 30-year-old lost his track completely in the following set and after losing his serve three times, he lost the set with a breadstick. Fish failed to seek any break opportunity and brushed off two out of five breakpoints he came across. He again jolted
down a lower first serve share and gave no real challenge to Russell.
Next challenge for Russell is the rising teenager, Ryan Harrison, who tumbled over the Russian veteran, Igor Kunitsyn, to set-up this meeting.
The second seed, John Isner, faced a better fortune as he rallied past the Argentinean competitor, Horacio Zeballos, in three sets to progress.
Ranked 10th in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Isner fired 16 aces and cashed in three out of 10 break chances to manipulate a 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-2 success. He also manifested a better first serve share of 63 per cent in contrast
with the Argentinean’s 59 per cent and amazingly availed 42 out of 55 points on it.
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