1 Response to cincinnati03roddick_fish

1. Voo de Mar says:

   January 24, 2025 at 9:49 am

   Points won by each set: | 31-35, 45-40, 49-42 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   45 % Roddick – 50 of 111
   29 % Fish – 39 of 131

   A final between two young Americans and very good friends who – as servers – were more efficient than ever at the time, albeit applying different tactics: a sheer service power of Roddick supported by his huge forehand, and a classical game-style of Fish (serve-and-volley behind each 1st serve) following his diversified serve. For Roddick [4] that great service period extended to three big events (Montreal, Cincy, US Open), for Fish [41] only Cincinnati, also a bit of the US Open – between the first round at Cincy (vs. Mark Philippoussis) and the second round at UO (vs. Karol Kucera), Fish held 92 straight times!
   The only break of the final occurred at 2-all. Fish had two match points leading 5:4 in the 3rd set – Roddick fought them off with a service winner and an ace. Fish should have produced a third match point, but missed an overhead from a relatively easy position. In the deciding tie-break only one mini break at 2-all made the difference. Roddick said afterwards: “It’s hard to try and kick someone’s ass who you like so much. Mardy has made impressive strides in the last year or so and he is working hard.” A half year later they face each other in another American final (San Jose).

   Roddick’s route to his 5th title:
   1 Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 6-2
   2 Ivan Ljubicic 6-1, 6-4
   3 James Blake 7-6(3), 6-2
   Q Mariano Zabaleta 6-1, 6-2
   S Max Mirnyi 7-6(5), 6-4
   W Mardy Fish 4-6, 7-6(3), 7-6(4) – 2 m.p.

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