ARTICLE Men's Round-up, Day Three Day Session: Fish Nets Biggest Catch of his Career
The road back from injury is proving a tough one for Juan Carlos Ferrero. Ten months ago he was world No. 1, French Open champion and US Open runner-up, but a run of injuries has dented his confidence, and he has now crashed out of the Olympic tennis tournament in the second round.
Ferrero's 46 76 64 exit at the hands of American Mardy Fish is particularly frustrating as he led 64 53 and served for the match at 5-4 in the second set. But once Fish had broken to 30 to level at 5-5, the match began to turn. Fish won the tiebreak 7-5 on his third set point, and a break in the third game of the final set proved the vital advantage to see the American to a two-hour 38-minute victory.
"The Olympic factor had a lot to do with it," said Fish of the support he received from his American teammates. "There was definitely something extra there. I kept saying to myself: this is the Olympics, this is the Olympics, I can't go out in two straight sets. I've had other big wins, but this is the Olympics, so it's the biggest one."
Ferrero was at a loss to explain why he couldn't finish the job having led 5-3 in the second set. "I don't know what was happening with the two double faults I served. I was feeling good, I was serving good, I had confidence - it wasn't nerves. Maybe there are small things that I was doing well last year, and last year I would have won the match."
Fish's win continues a remarkable run for the Americans, who have yet to lose in nine singles matches. Taylor Dent was the other US winner on the third morning session, recovering from a bad start to beat Dominik Hrbaty 76 64.
Despite Ferrero's defeat, Spain have a representative in the third round, after Feliciano Lopez beat Marat Safin 76 63. The other two Spaniards in the second round, Tommy Robredo and Carlos Moya, play on Tuesday night.
The road back from injury is proving a tough one for Juan Carlos Ferrero. Ten months ago he was world No. 1, French Open champion and US Open runner-up, but a run of injuries has dented his confidence, and he has now crashed out of the Olympic tennis tournament in the second round.
Ferrero's 46 76 64 exit at the hands of American Mardy Fish is particularly frustrating as he led 64 53 and served for the match at 5-4 in the second set. But once Fish had broken to 30 to level at 5-5, the match began to turn. Fish won the tiebreak 7-5 on his third set point, and a break in the third game of the final set proved the vital advantage to see the American to a two-hour 38-minute victory.
"The Olympic factor had a lot to do with it," said Fish of the support he received from his American teammates. "There was definitely something extra there. I kept saying to myself: this is the Olympics, this is the Olympics, I can't go out in two straight sets. I've had other big wins, but this is the Olympics, so it's the biggest one."
Ferrero was at a loss to explain why he couldn't finish the job having led 5-3 in the second set. "I don't know what was happening with the two double faults I served. I was feeling good, I was serving good, I had confidence - it wasn't nerves. Maybe there are small things that I was doing well last year, and last year I would have won the match."
Fish's win continues a remarkable run for the Americans, who have yet to lose in nine singles matches. Taylor Dent was the other US winner on the third morning session, recovering from a bad start to beat Dominik Hrbaty 76 64.
Despite Ferrero's defeat, Spain have a representative in the third round, after Feliciano Lopez beat Marat Safin 76 63. The other two Spaniards in the second round, Tommy Robredo and Carlos Moya, play on Tuesday night.
