For a man who earned his first ATP victory in Miami in 2000 to still be involved in top tier tennis in 2015 is impressive. For Mardy Fish it is a near miracle. Yet he prepares for his final adventure in Flushing Meadows with a fantastic career behind him.
As a young player he faced the likes of Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Pete Sampras, defeating the former and losing to the latter. In the twilight days of his career he has faced the young burgeoning talent of the modern day, players such as Kei Nishikori and Bernard Tomic, bridging the gap between tennis generations. In the intervening years he has competed strongly against some of the best players in tennis history, scoring wins against Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal, and his close friend Andy Roddick. Fish’s head to head record of four-five against Murray in particular is evidence of how fine a player he was in his prime.
Yet Fish does not just have big name victories but also memorable titles to recall. He took the silver medal at the 2004 Athens Games. He also won six singles titles, five in his native United States, and one in Sweden. He also contested four Masters Finals, taking a set in each of his defeats against Roddick, Federer, and Djokovic (twice).
2004 also represented the year where he played a massive role in the US Davis Cup victory, playing in the quarters, semis, and the final against Spain, where he won the final dead rubber against Tommy Robredo. Fish would also prove to be a valuable doubles stand-in, partnering Mike Bryan to victory against Wawrinka/Federer in the first round of the 2012 Davis Cup.
He enjoyed a career high season in 2011, when he won in Atlanta. He also enjoyed his best run at Wimbledon, defeating 2010 finalist Tomas Berdych, before a four set defeat to defending champion Nadal. These memorable performances, coupled with excellent displays at the US hardcourt Masters 1000s saw Fish attain a career best ranking of seven in August. He then qualified for the ATP World Tour Finals in London for the only time of his career in the eighth position.
Fish put up entertaining displays in a tough group including Federer, Nadal, and Jo Wilfried Tsonga, taking sets off both Federer and Nadal, but eventually succumbed in all three clashes. Fish ended 2011 with a season-end career high of eight.
Fish then played a good 2012 campaign but a serious heart condition began to take a toll on his professional and personal well being. Fish required surgery but played just six tournaments in 2013 and not at all in 2014, as he dealt with related health complications.
Despite his health issues, he has proven an invaluable source of wisdom to the latest generation of American stars, giving advice to the likes of Jack Sock, and even veterans such as John Isner. Fish may stay involved in the game post retirement, he acted as a commentator at the Washington Citi Open.
Yet he still has one tournament to navigate before the future begins, determined as he is to end his career on his terms. He played in Indian Wells, Atlanta, and Cincinnati, where he comfortably beat Viktor Troicki in straight sets, before falling to Andy Murray in two tight sets. His performance in Cincinnati offers encouragement that he may be able to put together one last run, though he faces a potentially tough second round encounter against Spain’s Feliciano Lopez.
Fish represents the final American to retire, from singles, from the group that included Andy Roddick, and James Blake, a true ending of an era for American tennis. This US Open is not about seeing Mardy Fish in his prime, but a celebration of a true gentleman of the sport ending his career as he sees fit, not forced by other circumstances, at his home Grand Slam. There could be no more fitting finale and farewell to Mardy Fish.
Mardy Fish opens play on Grandstand against Marco Cecchinato at 11am Est. (4pm GMT).
