Mardy Fish on the top of his game in 2011– Part 2
After having a superb winter hard court season and replacing Andy Roddick as the new American number 1, Fish headed to Madrid to start his clay court season.
The American did not have a good start at the red clay as he was upset by compatriot John Isner in three sets 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-7(3) in the opening round at the Mutua Madrid Open.
Trying to put up a better show at his least favourite surface, Fish headed to the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event in Rome. The American beat Colombian Santiago Giraldo in three sets 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 in the first round to win his
first clay court match of the season at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. Fish ousted former world number 3 Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia in three sets 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2 to reach the third round. However, the American could not reach last eight as he was dismissed
by Marin Cilic of Croatia in straight sets 6-7(6), 3-6 in the round of 16.
Featuring at the second grand slam of the season, Fish had to bring out his best game to overcome Brazilian Ricardo Mello in four sets 6-2, 6-7(11), 6-2, 6-4 in the first round at the French Open. The American went one step ahead
of his Australian Open performance as he knocked out Robin Haase of the Netherlands in straight sets 7-6(1), 6-2, 6-1 to move to the round of 32. Fish’s progress was halted as he was thrashed by French Gilles Simon in straight sets 3-6, 4-6, 2-6 in the third
round.
Fish represented his country at the Power Horse World Team Cup before the start of grass court season. The American defeated Andrey Golubev of Kazakhstan in straight sets 6-4, 6-2 in the opening match of the round robin stage.
However, the American was upset by clay court specialist Juan Monaco of Argentina in straight sets 6-7(4), 5-7 in the second round robin match. With the loss against the Argentineans, Fish failed to take his team to the semi-finals.
Fish did not play any pre Wimbledon tournament. Instead, he opted for a rest of two weeks before the third grand slam of the season.
At the 125th edition of the prestigious Wimbledon Championships, Fish made a good start as he beat Marcel Granollers and Uzbek Denis Istomin in straight sets in the first and second round respectively. He faced a tough
competition from Haase in the round of 32, before he retired due to an injury trailing 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-2, 1-1. Fish impressed everyone as he upset last year’s runner-up Tomas Berdych in straight sets 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-4 in the fourth round to reach the last eight.
The American faced top seed and defending champion Rafael Nadal for a place in the semi-finals. The right-handed fought brilliantly before going down in four sets 3-6, 3-6, 7-5, 4-6 in the quarterfinals.
This was the first time that Fish reached the last eight in his nine appearances at the Wimbledon Championships. The six feet and two inches tall earned 360 South African Airways ATP Ranking Points and £137,500 for his superb performance
at the Wimbledon Championships. The American rose to a career best ninth spot in the world rankings after his quarterfinal showing at the SW 19.
The story continues in part 3
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