Mardy Fish on the top of his game in 2011– Part 3
After his career best performance at the Wimbledon Championships, Fish rose to his personal best ranking of number 8 in the world on 4th July 2011.
The American represented his country against Spain at the Davis Cup. However, Fish failed to perform well as he lost both of his matches against the Spaniards. The right-handed was beaten by lower ranked Feliciano Lopez in five
thrilling sets 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-8 in the first rubber. The American put up a better show in his next match but was unable to claim a win, going down at the hands of the then world number 6 David Ferrer in four sets 5-7, 6-7(3), 7-5, 6-7(5) in the reverse
singles.
Fish took a rest of one week before the start of the Olympus US Open series. He received a bye in the first round at the Atlanta Tennis Championships. The American regained his form as he thrashed French Nicolas Mahut, Somdev Devvarman
of India and compatriot Ryan Harrison in straight sets to reach the title match. Fish fought back from a deficit of one set to overcome compatriot John Isner, ranked 35th at that time, in three sets 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-2 in the final to win his first
title of the season.
The American appeared at the Farmers Classic in Los Angeles after successfully defending his title at the Atlanta Tennis Championships. Fish, seeded first at the event, received a bye in the opening round. The American beat Luxembourger
Gilles Muller and Igor Kunitsyn of Russia in straight sets in the round of 16 and quarterfinal respectively. Fish faced Harrison for the second successive week for a place in the title match. Unlike the previous week when he went down in straight sets, the
youngster put up a great show and took the match to three sets, eventually losing 6-0, 4-6, 7-6(3). The American entered the final with a hope to win second title in as many weeks but he was upset by Ernests Gulbis of Latvia in three sets 7-5, 4-6, 4-6.
Leading in the Olympus US Open series, Fish started the Rogers Cup as the top seed, receiving a bye in the first round. The American avenged his Davis Cup loss as he beat Lopez in straight sets 6-2, 6-3 in the second round. Then,
the 29-year-old took revenge of his previous week’s loss at the hands of Ernests Gulbis, beating him in three sets 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the round of 16. The American ousted Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka and Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia in the quarterfinal and semi-final
respectively to enter his third straight title match. Fish played bravely against the world number 1 Novak Djokovic. However, for the second successive week he fell one step short, losing to the Serbian in three sets 2-6, 6-3, 4-6.
To play his last tournament before the US Open, the American reached Cincinnati. Fish defeated former world number 3 Nikolay Davydenko and Richard Gasquet to reach the last eight at the Western and Southern Open. The California
resident upset world number 2 Rafael Nadal of Spain in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 in the quarterfinals. Fish was unable to proceed to his fourth consecutive final as he was knocked out by eventual champion Andy Murray of Great Britain in straight sets 3-6, 6-7(8)
in the semi-finals.
The American won the US Open Series due to his great run during the summer hard court season.
Tags: