Mardy Fish dumps Somdev Devvarman in the quarter-finals – Atlanta Tennis Championships 2011
No real trouble faced by the world number nine, Mardy Fish of the United Sates, to dispose of the eighth seeded Indian competitor, Somdev Devvarman, in the quarter-finals of Atlanta Tennis Championships on Friday afternoon.
Being part of the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Tour 250 swing, the competition took place on the hard courts of Atlanta, the United States. Seeded at number in the tournament, the American exhibited his true
top-class tennis to outplay the Indian opponent in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, to make it into the semis of the Championships.
Devvarman, who has been in a good shape in the tournament, hung in the matchup for one hour and thirty three minutes before succumbing in the second set let the top seed fly away with victory. Fish beat his opponent in every segment
of the game and faced no serious challenge from Devvarman throughout the contest. The top seed registered his 23rd victory of the running ATP season on Friday to earn a semi-final pass of the tournament.
Eighth seeded Devvarman drew the first blood in the third game of the match, breaking into a 2-1 lead. Fish retaliated right away to convert a break point in the very next game to bring him back to even terms in the contest. A
regular game followed after the serve breaks but a timely strike from fish at 5-4 made the all-important difference, closing out the opening set in his name.
The American has a blasting start to the second set and cracked in two successive break points to rocket away to 5-0 lead. The Indian interrupted his opponent’s momentum with a serve break but it all came a bit too late, letting
Fish conclude the matchup at 6-3.
Fish had already defeated Devvarman twice in straight sets last year, with the last victory coming at Newport, when he beat the Indian, 6-2, 6-0, to make it to the quarter-finals of the event. His Friday’s victory makes the all-time
head-to-head record against the Indian 3-0 and booked a place for him in the round of four of Atlanta Tennis Championships.
Up next for the top seed is his fellow compatriot, Ryan Harrison, in the semi-final draws. Harrison stood victorious against the other American contestant, Rajeev Ram, in an enthralling three-setter in the second round, which he
eventually win at 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(5), to book a date with Fish for a place in the final of the tournament.
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