The Dark Knight Takes On Mardy Fish

By Joe McDonald

Roger Federer in his match against Fernando Verdasco at the 2012 U.S. Open

(September 1, 2012) -- Now we are coming down to the really fun matches.

After a week of dispatching Gotham’s lower end of the draw, the Dark Knight himself, Roger Federer, starts his marquee run against in the Round of 16 later today against the White Knight of the American draw, Harvey Den…I mean Mardy Fish.

Because of his unpredictable play, Fish is a tough, tough read. Much like Batman’s Two-Face, he can be really good and the put up a stink bomb.

Tomorrow against Federer, he will need to bring his A-Game to the match.

Career-wise, the Swiss Master holds an 8-1 edge over the American, with the only Fish win coming back at Indian Wells in 2008.

Their last match came two weeks ago in Cincinnati with Federer taking a 6-3, 7-6(4) win.

Needless to say if the White Night beats the Dark Knight they will be talking about this throughout the night in Gotham.

And let’s not forget Federer is on a mission here. After he lost the Semifinals to Novak Djokovic last year, in a match he thought he had in his hand, the Dark Knight has been on a mission, willing himself back to the No. 1 seed and winning Wimbledon.

But the Open still stick in his craw and the Swiss Master knows that this week is his chance at redemption. And during his third round win against Fernando Verdasco, Federer thought about last year.

“I thought it was a similar atmosphere,” he said. “I guess against Novak, it was later in the day. Just an assumption I have. I'm not sure anymore. I just felt the atmosphere, Labor Day weekend, also at the end, semis or finals, that those day matches have a different atmosphere to the night session matches.

“Now I've played two night. Coming out during the day, when I walked on, it reminded me of the ovation I got from that particular match, and then when I got up to serve for it, I think it was the same end, when it was against Novak, just tried to serve this one through.”

And Fish had a hard fought match on Saturday against Gilles Simon, which lasted until well past 1 am on Sunday.

Fish will be looking to recover as he is the day session marquee match on Labor Day.

“I know that he's not feeling 100 percent, and sometimes it's even tougher to play guys like that, to keep your concentration," Fish said. "Apart from the serve, [Simon] appeared to be playing really well. ... Made for a long night."

He will have to shake that off if Fish plans on giving Federer a run for his money. At least he knows he will be getting to bed at a decent hour.

But it should be interesting, as the New York crowd tends to favor Americans, but at the same time, has a certain love for its Dark Knight, who is looking to come back as Gotham’s protector of the crown for the first time since 2008. It’s going to be fun.

(Photo Credit: Andy Kentla)