Mardy Fish fights past opponent, conditions, self to play another day

NEW YORK—On Sunday, Mardy Fish revealed that he requested to play his first-round—and possibly last-ever—match at the U.S. Open on Grandstand. Like the 33-year-old American, who is retiring after this tournament, we’ll soon be saying goodbye to the 38-year-old court, whose “intimate, awesome crowds” have made it a favorite for both fans and players.

On Monday, after his 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 win over 106th-ranked Marco Cecchinato, Fish let everyone in attendance who doesn’t check Twitter know about his feelings. “This is a special place,” Fish told a jubilant crowd, one that didn’t fill Grandstand to capacity but was louder than many that have. “I’m glad I got to come out here one more time.”

As draws go, this was a parting gift from the tennis gods. The Italian was playing in his first main-draw match at a major, while Fish’s accomplishments once took him to the top of the ladder in U.S. men’s tennis. But severe anxiety disorder—diagnosed after heart surgery was needed to correct arrhythmia—changed everything. Three years ago at Flushing Meadows, Fish’s condition was so debilitating that he withdrew from a match against Roger Federer after a mentally-crippling third-rounder that lasted late into the night. He played only sparingly in 2013, and was out of the game completely in 2014.

“This tournament is where it all came crashing down,” Fish told the press afterward. “It’s still a constant battle, but my life is back again, and I can do normal things again.”

In the process of combatting his mental disease, Fish decided that he wanted to leave the sport on his own terms. Feeling up for the rigors of competition and in a better state, he returned to the tour in Indian Wells and has used the summer U.S. hard-court stretch as his farewell tour. After a first-round loss in Atlanta (during which he also played doubles with Andy Roddick), Fish trounced 20th-ranked Viktor Troicki in Cincinnati, 6-2, 6-2, then played world No. 2 Andy Murray tough in a 6-4, 7-6 (1) loss.

Fish got back on the winning side of things today, but like all of his matches since 2012, it wasn’t without its challenges. “One bad service game that first set,” lamented Fish, who admitted that even going four sets today will compromise his chances of success going forward. “I got through it…but there’s a lot of things that most players out here don’t have to deal with that I have to deal with.

“If I didn’t get through that last game, it would have been interesting.”

Fish was forced to serve out that last game after Cecchinato saved a match point at 2-5 with a forehand that grazed the sideline. It wasn’t unlike the shot that eventually won Fish the match, a service ace. It was close, though, which compelled Cecchinato to issue a challenge even with the match seemingly over, Fish walking toward the net and the crowd at full bellow. Before the confirmation from Hawk-Eye, the two players—just to be sure—held out their to-be-clasped hands in mid-air, like a paused scene from a movie.

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Time, and this tournament, will not stop for anyone, even the sentimental crowd favorite of the 2015 Open. Fish will next face fellow veteran and bullet-serving Feliciano Lopez, who is playing some of the best tennis of his career; he just beat Rafael Nadal in Cincinnati. It’s a match-up that seems destined for Louis Armstrong Stadium, perhaps even Arthur Ashe Stadium.

But Fish might be content to play his second-rounder, and any subsequent matches, in the American-friendly confines of Grandstand. A supporting section serenaded Fish with a post-victory chant, to which he waved back in appreciation. And as he walked off the court, a ball girl draped a cool towel around his neck after a tiring, two-hour and 52-minute match on a balmy afternoon.

“Those were conditions I used to absolutely love,” said Fish. “I spent a lot of time today telling myself that it’s going to be OK.”

The white salve wasn’t as colorful as a Hawaiian lei, but to Fish, it appeared just as welcoming.