Mardy Fish cruises past Ryan Harrison into the final – Atlanta Tennis Championships 2011
American number one Mardy Fish, ranked ninth in the world, continued his title defence as he outplayed compatriot Ryan Harrison, ranked 120th in the world, in straight sets 6-2, 6-4 in the semi-finals of Atlanta Tennis
Championships at Racquet Club of the South in Atlanta on Saturday. The American needed just an hour and eighteen minutes to oust his opponent.
Fish kept a firm grip on the match form the very beginning as he broke Harrison in the third game of the first set and held his serve in the next game to take a 3-1 lead. The American broke again at 4-4 and consolidated on it to
clinch the set 6-4.
The 29-year-old delivered a meagre 36 percent of the first serves but the top seed had an impressive conversion rate as he won 78 percent of the first service points in the first set. Fish also won 63 percent of the points on the
second serve in the opening set. While, Harrison delivered 50 percent of the first serves, converting a mere 42 percent of them into points. The right-handed won seven of the twelve second service points in the first set. The American could not return properly,
winning just two of the nine first return points. On the other hand, Fish returned brilliantly as he claimed seven of the twelve points on the first returns. The American saved the only break point he faced and capitalised on two of the four break points he
received on Harrison’s serve in the first set.
In the second set, Fish took the lead straightaway, breaking Harrison in the first game and holding his next service game to grab a 2-0 lead. The American did not lose his serve throughout the set and served it out in the tenth
game, winning the set 6-4.
The Florida resident hit 60 percent of the first serves and one ace in the second set. The right-handed bulldozed his opponent with the serve as he won eleven of the fifteen first service points and an amazing nine of the ten second
service points in the second set.
Fish was all praise for the teenager. The top American said, "It's important to know that he is doing the right things. He's still very young. It's a mid-20s to late-20s type game now. But it's also important (for him) to know
that he's a long ways away, as well. You can't be satisfied."
The top seed will meet third seed, compatriot John Isner in the title match. Isner beat Gilles Muller of Luxembourg in three sets 7-5, 6-7(3), 6-1 in the semi-finals.
Tags: