Mardy Fish is no fish out of water at the U.S. Open
The U.S. Open plays host to many exciting competitors of all shapes and sizes from all over the world. One such player whose shape has changed significantly as of late is American Mardy Fish.
The 29-year-old Minnesotan has been trying to get back into shape, and has recently dropped 30lb. By his own admission, Fish is not quite used to his newer, slimmer self yet.
“I feel like a completely different person,” Fish said after a winning a big five-set match against Czech Jan Hajek on Tuesday. The diminutive Hajek is currently the world’s 82nd-ranked tennis player.
Fish says that losing weight has allowed him to “do so many things with my game that I could never do before.” With those 30 lb gone from his 6ft 2in frame, it is hoped that he will be able to take his game to a new level.
The weight loss certainly helped when Fish faced Hajek. It increased his speed and mobility significantly, and allowed him to compete against the smaller and much faster Hajek.
Currently ranked at 21st overall in the world singles standings, Fish is considered as one of the sport’s great young American competitors. He turned pro when he was only 19 years old, and won a silver medal for the United States in the men’s singles completion at the 2004 Olympic Games.
A hard-court specialist, Fish has had an impressive career thus far. He has won five tournaments on the ATP Tour, and managed to reach the final in three events in the Masters Series.
In terms of Grand Slam tournaments, Fish’s best result was when he reached the quarter-finals at the Australian Open in 2007, and again at the U.S. Open in 2008.
On the court, Fish is a formidable opponent. His arsenal includes a strong serve and a mighty backhand shot. Combining these skills has won him many points from the baseline, which has been vital in all of his matches. The power of these skills increased significantly after Fish lost weight.
Fish required knee surgery in 2009 due to his hefty size. Many thought that he would never be able to compete at the same level after the surgery, but he bounced back wonderfully, and has been playing well ever since.
A stronger sense of self-confidence has allowed Fish to mature on the court. In the past, he often coasted on his talent in major competitions. He credits bad decisions to his past performances, and his desire to win has grown in leaps and bounds as well.
“I feel healthy,” Fish says of his renewed sense of self-confidence. “A lot of it has to do with just sort of walking around the locker room, feeling confident. I want to set a precedent to the guys that I can play in the hottest stuff out there. I want to sort of put some sort of myth out there.”
In Tuesday’s Match against Hajek, the new and improved Fish went hunting for victory, and ultimately found it. Hajek dominated the match through the second and third sets, but began to slow down in the fourth.
“It’s a good feeling to wear down a player and know that all the hard work that you put in just paid off right there,” Fish said of his play.
Despite his resurgence, Fish actually came within a hair of losing at numerous points in the match. But after Hajek’s early dominance, Fish regained his composure, and mounted a great comeback to emerge victorious. Had Fish not gotten back into shape, it would have been an entirely different story.
Many tennis fans have their doubts about how Fish will perform in this year’s U.S Open, but Fish shown that he has matured greatly and become a serious contender. His new fitness regime and restored belief in his ability will ensure that he is definitely not a Fish out of water on the court.
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