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9/3/08 7:08 AM | Ricky Dimon
Mardy Fish has already clinched his best-ever showing at the U.S. Open. Now, when he meets Rafael Nadal for the fifth time in their careers, Fish will try to prevent Nadal from clinching his. The American has lost to Nadal all four times without taking a single set. In two hard-court battles--both of which came at Masters Series events back in 2006--Fish never won more than a total of six games.
It's hard to imagine Fish being unable to make things more competitive this time around. He reached the New Haven title match last week and is in rare form at the Open. Fish has never enjoyed much Grand Slam success, especially not at the U.S. Open. In eight previous visits to Flushing Meadows, the No. 35 player in the world had never progressed past the second round. Now he's one win away from the semifinals, thanks to wins over Robert Smeets and Paul-Henri Mathieu in four sets, and James Blake and Gael Monfils in emphatic straight-set upsets.
Nadal has not been as dominant in New York, but he has been good enough to already match his best-ever U.S. Open performance. The top seed fought off Bjorn Phau in three tough sets--including two tiebreakers--in his opener, then dispatched both Ryler DeHeart and Viktor Troicki in three sets. Nadal then struggled with 6'6'' American Sam Querrey before surviving in four tough sets. Perhaps Nadal's incredible 2008 campaign is a double-edged sword at the moment: he has to be both fatigued and confident at the same time. The Spaniard came into this event as the four-time French Open champion, the current Wimbledon champion, the Olympic gold medalist, and the No. 1 player in the world.
All of that makes Nadal a heavy favorite on Wednesday night, but Fish has the game to trouble Nadal. His big serve is penetrating on fast hard courts and flat, powerful groundstrokes have always given Nadal problems. Those are the kind of strokes Fish yields, especially off the backhand side and his forehand has been surprisingly consistent through four matches. Whatever he does from the baseline, however, Fish must come to net and finish points off as early as possible against his opponent. He did a great job of that against Monfils. Can he do it against Nadal? If Nadal keeps his heavy groundstrokes deep near the baseline he can prevent Fish from dictating play and taking the net. Nadal, of course, is the heavy favorite, but Fish should be expected to win at least one set given his current form.
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I have the answer ed: GET OUT THE PINS! Must I even tell you! :-)
tenstar , 9/3/08 9:26 AM
How stupid of me, I quite forgot. Trouble is, it is now too late. They only work before sunrise and they are due on the court later today.
ed251137 , 9/3/08 9:31 AM
Ok ed, but if our hero falls, you know that sstay and I will need to hold someone responsible, don't you? ;-)
No, just kidding. Have you watched Fish? Looks like he's in good form. I hope RD's prediction comes good.
tenstar , 9/3/08 10:14 AM
you disappoint us, Ed. Pins, mantras, you know the drill!
hoping that Mardy will tighten up as he is known to do on the big stage and Rafa's presence and grunting alone will make his game fall apart. we'll see. it'll be 8.30 am tmr and I won't be able to see it as I'll be at work!!.. unless of course the migrane could set in and I'll have to ring in sick...
sstay , 9/3/08 12:04 PM
I promise not to fail in my duty in future. Meanwhile, if he doesn't win tonight I won't dare show my face on this site again.
ed251137 , 9/3/08 3:03 PM
ed, tenstar, this is on now. not looking good 2-5. I'm praying.
sstay , 9/4/08 6:08 AM
sstay: tenstar and I have been chatting on the other site - see Murray wont be on Best Terms. We'll switch over to here. Rafa looking more in control!
ed251137 , 9/4/08 7:06 AM
I know, saw a bit of it. was flat out this morning so couldn't participate. looking much better now, third set 5-3. Hoping for good outcome. have dentist appt in an hour - damnit.
sstay , 9/4/08 7:27 AM
Just back from lunch! 2 sets to 1 - good! My boss thinks I'm working too! he, he.
Dentist sstay?? Hmm, want me to sms you?! :) Your prays working tho, pins too.
tenstar , 9/4/08 7:43 AM
4-2. he's got the break!!!! Yoohoo!!
sstay , 9/4/08 8:02 AM
He's taken it! Phew! sstay...roof intact?!
tenstar , 9/4/08 8:12 AM
Oh ye of little faith. Why did we doubt. Frankly though it was fairly crap tennis. And he really won from Fish's mistakes. But the main thing is he won!!!!!!!!!! Now what do I do? I can't really be so unpatriotic as to wish bad luck on the lone British player. May be just a few pricks rather than stabs.
Cant believe sstay you were really going to the dentist. Thought you just wrote that in case somebody looked over your shoulder. Why didn't you go and try out TV's and ask them to tune to tennis so you could decide if it was the right one for you?
I'm going to bed now for a bit of kip.
ed251137 , 9/4/08 8:21 AM
Before I do though, any guesses who will make it to the final. I think Rafa rather than popeye and Federer over Roddick - even though Rog has struggled in several of his matches and Roddy has steamrollered everybody. Just a hunch.
ed251137 , 9/4/08 8:29 AM
skipped and danced all the way to the dentist!!!!
I'm hoping of course that Rafa goes all the way, but my hunch is that andy M might have the upper hand over Rafa and Nole will beat Roddick but Roger will beat Nole to set up final with andy.
sstay , 9/4/08 4:56 PM
Did you know that... Jimmy Connors is the only player to have won the US Open on grass, clay and hard court.
kaitepai, Dec 2, 2008 4:51 AM
tennisfan2, Dec 2, 2008 3:42 AM
tennisgirl, Dec 1, 2008 11:48 PM
lendl, Dec 1, 2008 6:17 PM
jorgeedu72, Dec 1, 2008 3:34 PM
samprallica, Nov 30, 2008 1:33 PM
samprallica, Nov 30, 2008 1:21 PM
samprallica, Nov 30, 2008 1:15 PM
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Tennistalk v1.3.0
Mardy Fish 
US Open
This is an interesting scenario. Will the confidence work for him and allow him to raise his game to a new level: or will he be thinking too far ahead of a semi-final and stumble?
ed251137 , 9/3/08 9:13 AM