Kirilenkofan
09-09-2004, 12:40 PM
By Ticker Story
September 9, 2004
FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) - If Mardy Fish can somehow see the big picture, he might be able to crack the top 10 in the world.
Those were the words of United States Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe, who Wednesday named the four-man squad that will face Belarus in a semifinal tie later this month.
The announcement came at the National Tennis Center, where Andy Roddick remains alive in a bid for his second straight U.S. Open title.
As one of tennis' elite players, Roddick was a no-brainer for McEnroe. The choice for second singles came down to Fish, Vincent Spadea and Taylor Dent. None of the three had a successful stay at the season's final Grand Slam event, but Fish won the silver medal at the Olympics last month.
"I believe in Mardy," McEnroe said. "I think Mardy still has a tremendous upside. I think he's still just scratched the surface of what he's doing, and he's got a lot of game."
A 22-year-old from Minnesota, Fish began the Open 27th in the ATP points race. He hasn't won a title this season, losing finals to Roddick and Roger Federer before his five-set setback against Nicolas Massu in Athens.
Although Fish failed to get out of the second round last week, McEnroe saw enough at the Olympics to include him on the team. The captain also believes Fish has just scratched the surface.
"I think Mardy understands that he's got game that is imposing, and I think what he did very well in Athens is that he played his game, very aggressive," McEnroe said.
Fish has shown signs of brilliance during his brief career. He claimed one of his three finals appearances last year and ranked second on tour by winning 81 percent of his first serves.
McEnroe thinks Fish just lacks some intensity, particularly in practice. He hopes some of Roddick's work habits will rub off on the third-ranked American player.
"I think the harder he works on that in practice, the more it will help him," McEnroe said.
And in turn, it will help the Davis Cup team, which is seeking the country's 32nd title but first since 1995.
Roddick is the heart and soul of the team. Armed with the hardest serve in history, the 22-year-old should be as dangerous as ever on the hard courts in Charleston, South Carolina.
"He's playing with more confidence," McEnroe said of Roddick, who faces Sweden's Joachim Johansson in the Open quarterfinals. "He's in better shape, physically he's stronger and lighter, he's moving better."
McEnroe hopes the Bryan twins will be able to move better, particularly Mike, who has been suffering from a hip ailment. They are one of the top doubles teams in the world.
But the wild card in the best-of-five match should be Fish, even if Belarus' two-man team of Vladimir Voltchkov and Max Mirnyi will have to combine for three victories.
McEnroe says Fish has the talent to defeat anyone in the world and crack the top 10 in the rankings. But he's still a work in progress.
"He needs to be pushed and I intend to keep pushing him," said McEnroe, who once did the same to Roddick. "If it takes me to keep irritating him, then that's what I'm going to do."
McEnroe could end up irritating the team right into the finals.
September 9, 2004
FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) - If Mardy Fish can somehow see the big picture, he might be able to crack the top 10 in the world.
Those were the words of United States Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe, who Wednesday named the four-man squad that will face Belarus in a semifinal tie later this month.
The announcement came at the National Tennis Center, where Andy Roddick remains alive in a bid for his second straight U.S. Open title.
As one of tennis' elite players, Roddick was a no-brainer for McEnroe. The choice for second singles came down to Fish, Vincent Spadea and Taylor Dent. None of the three had a successful stay at the season's final Grand Slam event, but Fish won the silver medal at the Olympics last month.
"I believe in Mardy," McEnroe said. "I think Mardy still has a tremendous upside. I think he's still just scratched the surface of what he's doing, and he's got a lot of game."
A 22-year-old from Minnesota, Fish began the Open 27th in the ATP points race. He hasn't won a title this season, losing finals to Roddick and Roger Federer before his five-set setback against Nicolas Massu in Athens.
Although Fish failed to get out of the second round last week, McEnroe saw enough at the Olympics to include him on the team. The captain also believes Fish has just scratched the surface.
"I think Mardy understands that he's got game that is imposing, and I think what he did very well in Athens is that he played his game, very aggressive," McEnroe said.
Fish has shown signs of brilliance during his brief career. He claimed one of his three finals appearances last year and ranked second on tour by winning 81 percent of his first serves.
McEnroe thinks Fish just lacks some intensity, particularly in practice. He hopes some of Roddick's work habits will rub off on the third-ranked American player.
"I think the harder he works on that in practice, the more it will help him," McEnroe said.
And in turn, it will help the Davis Cup team, which is seeking the country's 32nd title but first since 1995.
Roddick is the heart and soul of the team. Armed with the hardest serve in history, the 22-year-old should be as dangerous as ever on the hard courts in Charleston, South Carolina.
"He's playing with more confidence," McEnroe said of Roddick, who faces Sweden's Joachim Johansson in the Open quarterfinals. "He's in better shape, physically he's stronger and lighter, he's moving better."
McEnroe hopes the Bryan twins will be able to move better, particularly Mike, who has been suffering from a hip ailment. They are one of the top doubles teams in the world.
But the wild card in the best-of-five match should be Fish, even if Belarus' two-man team of Vladimir Voltchkov and Max Mirnyi will have to combine for three victories.
McEnroe says Fish has the talent to defeat anyone in the world and crack the top 10 in the rankings. But he's still a work in progress.
"He needs to be pushed and I intend to keep pushing him," said McEnroe, who once did the same to Roddick. "If it takes me to keep irritating him, then that's what I'm going to do."
McEnroe could end up irritating the team right into the finals.