Andy: The Semifinal American

Blue skies with passing clouds set the stage for Andy to send passing shots by fellow American Mardy Fish, and he did, defeating Fish in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2,

“I was flat when I got out there, and it was just different- I’d never even walked out on that court before,” Fish said in his post-match press conference. “He played well from the beginning… I just didn’t feel like anything was working.”

From the first service game on Mardy’s racquet, he looked like a fish out of water. With both players dressed from head-to-toe in all white, it appeared that these two would be an even match, fighting tooth and nail for every point. Andy quickly broke Fish and broke away from the gates with a 4-0, earning the lead from both winners and forcing errors. Andy hit great passing shots, had a good transition game, and his volleying and variety were in top form. Fish held twice, and Andy served out the set in thirty minutes.

“C’mon” followed breaking Fish’s first service game in the second set, but Fish broke back, giving Andy a wake-up call. The alarm rung loud and clear in his head and Andy put the pressure on and won five straight games in a row to take set two, 6-2. In the third set, Andy walked out on court with his head down, business as usual. Though Andy had a break point at 1-1, Fish fought back to Deuce and held the game with and ace and then when Andy hit one long. Andy evened it out at 2-2, and then ran away again with the set and the match.

“Being that we are close, it takes away a little bit from the elation,” Andy said on being the winner. Andy only had four unforced errors in the entire match, shot twenty-five winners, and converted more than 50% of his break points. Andy swung hard and played smart as the fierce number six seed in the world would do, regardless of who his opponent was. At the end of the day, Andy and Mardy are still friends and one match won’t change that. Mardy is onto more training and Andy is onto the semifinals here at the 2007 Australian Open.

“I like going up and competing against him, and I am looking forward to playing him if he gets through,” Andy said on the possibility on facing Roger in the semifinals. Stay tuned to AR.com to see who Andy faces next and everything from the AO. Oi Andy!