C7711458-40A3-4ACF-BCDC-BFF3C0783317
By Sean Rudolph
© Western & Southern Financial Group Masters
(August 21, 2010) Andy Roddick has long been one of tennis' most commanding closers, but the man with the flame-thrower first serve faltered at the finish line today. In a battle of buddies, Roddick suffered a stunning mental collapse and Mardy Fish took full advantage, fighting back for a 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-1 rain-delayed triumph to surge into the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters final for the first time since 2003.
Continuing his summer-long resurgence, Fish has won 22 of his last 25 matches since June, including a 16-1 tear since July.
Bidding for his third consecutive championship, Fish will face either third-seeded Roger Federer or Marcos Baghdatis, who toppled top-seeded Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals, in Sunday's final.
"Roger's beaten me like 65 times so I think we know what to do," joked Fish, who is 1-5 lifetime vs. Federer, but beat the Swiss stylist en route to the 2008 Indian Wells final.
Fish beat Roddick in last month's Atlanta semifinal and went on to defeat John Isner to claim his second straight title. He won Newport on grass last month before launching the most successful US Open Series streak of his career.
Fish outplayed Roddick for much of the opening set, but could not convert three break points. After a near one-hour rain delay, a distracted Fish returned to the court and flailed three weak forehands to drop the opening set, 6-4.
The 36th-ranked Fish was down 6-4, 5-2 when he reeled off nine of the next 10 games in storming out to a 5-0 third-set lead. Roddick dug out a hard-fought hold after deuce to prevent the humiliation of a bagel, but it was a temporary reprieve. Fish threw down the hammer, blasting a forehand winner down the line to secure a spot in his fourth final of the season.
Two-time tournament champion Roddick was playing for his third Masters Series 1000 final of the season, but could not seal the deal when he served for the match at 5-3 in the second set after a second rain delay.
Today's semifinal between former Boca Raton Prep teammates and former housemates was a rematch of the 2003 Cincy final, in which Roddick saved championship points to subdue Fish, 4-6, 7-6(3), 7-6(4). Fish was never broken in that final.
Roddick, who has spent much of his career as one of the most convincing closers in tennis, created complications for himself for the second straight day. He failed to serve out the match against second-seeded Novak Djokovic the first time, but recovered on his second attempt for a straight sets win.
The pair spent last week training together near Roddick's home in Austin, Texas and were deadlocked at 3-all in the second-set tie break when Fish threw down an ace for 4-3. A Fish mis-hit trampolined off the court and Roddick's backhand reply sailed long. Barking at himself, Roddick tried to regain control but sent a running forehand beyond the baseline, the fourth straight point he lost on serve, as Fish gained set points at 6-3.
Approaching to the Fish forehand, Roddick was stranded at net as Fish's forehand crosscourt pass found the sideline to seal the second set.
Roddick never recovered in falling behind 5-0 in the third.