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10/3/11 4:02 PM | Ricky Dimon
Mardy Fish beats Ryan Harrison for the third time in less than three months on Monday. Fish is through to the Tokyo second round and awaits either Ernests Gulbis or Lukasz Kubot.
Mardy Fish beat Ryan Harrison 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 in the first round of the Japan Open after two hours and 44 minutes of play on Monday. Fish, who is 3-0 lifetime and 3-0 against his fellow American this season, most recently outlasted Harrison in a third-set tiebreaker at the Farmers Classic in Los Angeles.
Handling the pressure moments better than his opponent proved to be the difference for Fish right from the start. The two compatriots exchanged one break of serve each en route to a 5-4 Fish advantage in the opening set. Needing a hold to stay in it, Harrison cracked and threw away the set to fall into an early hole--just as he had lost the opener in L.A.
Again, though, Harrison fought back. In fact, the 19-year-old mostly dominated set two; he did not get broken a single time and earned two breaks of his own. Harrison, who began to take advantage of Fish's second serves, forced a third set in style with his third break of the day.
With momentum in hand, Harrison raced to a 3-1 lead in the decider. The world No. 80, however, could not hold on and Fish broke back for 2-3. After serving to stay in the match at 4-5, Fish raised his level when it mattered most and struck decisively for a break at 5-5. The world No. 8 and No. 4 seed in Tokyo promptly held for a hard-earned place in the second round.
Fish, who struck only two aces to Harrison's seven, awaits either Ernests Gulbis or Lukasz Kubot.
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