I recall my disappointment on Labor Day 2012 when Mardy Fish pulled out of his quarterfinal contest against Roger Federer in Ashe Stadium at the U.S. Open. I was in the USTA president's box alongside luminaries like Anna Wintour, Vanessa Williams, Alan Rickman, and more, and his withdrawal meant that fans were treated to Serena Williams's 6-0, 6-0 drubbing of Andrea Hlavackova and then the less tantalizing men's match-up between Marin Cilic and Martin Klizan. Suffice it to say, Federer notwithstanding, crowds love and long for more Mardy on court.
Fish has been nearly a ghost on the ATP World Tour this season, that due to injuries. Now it has come to the forefront that he's rather openly giving a go at professional golfing. USA Today's Doug Robson has a full report on that, though Fish and his agent, John Tobias, aren't quite biting on the question of whether the former American No. 1 star is truly done with pro tennis. But his entry in a pair of Arizona events, tournaments where players seek to earn their PGA Tour cards, is telling.
Notably, Fish plays golf as a southpaw, the opposite of Rafael Nadal, who plays tennis left-handed but writes and golfs as a righty. Here's a glimpse at Fish's golf prowess: