Fish goes gunning for Federer

In a match twice interrupted by rain, Americans Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish see-sawed their way through three sets with the irrepressible Fish defeating Roddick for the second time during the Olympus U.S. Open series 4-6, 7- 5, 6-1. Mardy Fish earned this victory over his long-time friend who faltered at the end but had a set in hand and led 5-2 when the rains swept through the area for the second time.

When the first rain delay was called they players were on serve with Roddick leading 5-4. No sooner did the players resume play than Fish dropped his serve and handed Roddick the first set.

The win is Fish’s 35th on the tour this season and avenges a 2003 meeting between the Americans in the finals. Roddick fought off two match points to seal that title.

Fish’s new diet and training regimen is paying big dividends as the new, svelte Fish marched through the heat and knocked out Andy Murray in the quarters and now Roddick in the semis. He is playing the best tennis of his career and his serve has become a real weapon against heavyweight competition.

That is what he will need against another offensive-minded player, Switzerland’s Roger Federer. The number three seed methodically broke down Marcos Baghdatis who had defeated top seed Rafa Nadal in the quarters.

Federer put on his best serving display in a long time as he lost just three points on his first serve. The Swiss also has been working with new coach Paul Anacone to become more offensive on his return of serve.

All the tour players need is for Federer to develop new skills. Baghdatis had defeated Federer at Indian Wells earlier in the season but acknowledged that this Federer was not the same player. To add to his improved serve and more aggressive return of serve, Federer is also throwing in a new net strategy that presents just one more facet for players to worry about.

Today’s finals will be the seventh meeting between the two competitors. Federer holds a 5-1 career mark against Fish. However, that was between the old Fish and the old Federer. Federer will be a slight favorite but don’t count the American out of this one.

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