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Mardy Fish Obliterates Nikolay Davydenko In Cincy Second Round
By James Waterson Photo Credit: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
(August 17, 2011) Mardy Fish, America’s top-ranked player, reached the third round of the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, Ohio, after he dismantled 31st-ranked Nikolay Davydenko 6-0, 6-2 Wednesday.
It was an impressive showing from Fish, who has now won 12 matches in the North American hard court season.
“It's much harder to play when you're supposed to win,” Fish said. “But there is also a reason why I'm seven in the world now: It's because I've transformed and figured out a way to beat a lot of players. I figured out a way to be a really good player."
The transformation was apparent in his performance today. He hit nine aces and won 74 percent of his service points, while he also won 59 percent of his returning points and he broke his opponent five times.
“I can impose my serve game like today and impose my return game on a lot guys that hopefully makes them feel uncomfortable. I think makes them feel pretty uncomfortable. It would be a tough scenario to play someone that serves and returns well. I would feel like you wouldn't have much room for error. That's the goal,” Fish said.
The American is trying to replicate his performance from last year, when he lost to Roger Federer in three sets in the final.
Before that happens, he’ll have to face either 13th-ranked Richard Gasquet of France or 35th-ranked Kevin Anderson of South Africa, the man who beat Andy Murray in the second round of last week’s Rogers Cup.
Fish has never faced Anderson, but he has a 2-2 record against Gasquet. He won their last match at the 2011 Sony Ericsson Open in Miami in straight sets.
Gael Monfils, the sixth seed, joined Fish in the third round when his opponent, 36th-ranked Ivan Dodig of Croatia, retired at 4-6, 6-3, 4-0.
The Frenchman has a 4-1 record against Kohlschreiber, although the German’s only win did come earlier this year.
Ninth-seeded Nicolas Almagro of Spain improved to 3-0 against Ivo Karlovic after he beat him 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (2). He moves on to play eighth-seeded Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic, who he has a 2-3 record against.
This will be the first time they’re playing on hard courts; all of their previous matches have been on clay.
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