Mardy Fish Breaks News of Heart Problem

By Nick Georgandis

We are quick to criticize when our chosen champions cease to perform at the level we deem appropriate for our lofty standards of them.

When they take a tumble in the rankings or begin to stumble in rounds earlier than their rankings say they should, we being to question their dedication, their mental toughness, their workout habits, whether they've lost it or not, whether the fame or the money or the women (or the men) have gone to their head.

And then every once in a while, when we think we know everything about everyone because of our old friend the Internet, we realize that we don't know anything at all.

On Monday, American Mardy Fish revealed that he has undergone a medical procedure to correct a heart problem, the root of the fatigue he was diangosed with in late March, which is the last time he played.

The procedure, known as a cardiac catheter ablation, is designed to stop what doctors call misfiring electrial pulses in Fish's heart. Fish told USA Today on Monday that he "felt like my heart was going to jump out of my chest," when waking up in the middle of the night.

He added that he did not go public with the condition until he better understood it.

Fish lost six of his last seven matches in 2011 and staggered out of the gate to a 7-6 record to start the 2012 season.

As he slipped to the back end and briefly out of the Top 10, we figured that Fish's star had waxed and was beginning to wane. The miracle diet of 2009 had gotten Fish as far as it would take him, and while it was a sweet ride, he clearly wasn't the next great American male.

Fatigue had formerly bothered him before his famous diet in 2010 saw him lose 30 pounds and ascend the rankings in dramatic fashion.

"It's kind of an ugly word for me because I've worked so hard the last three years to get that stigma off my name," Fish said.

The American said he hopes to return for Wimbledon.

(Source)