Federer hopes to devour Fish
Federer's serve was particularly impressive as he won 90 per cent of his first service points.
CINCINNATI/OHIO:
World number two Roger Federer comfortably beat Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis 6-4 6-3 to set up a meeting with American Mardy Fish in the final of the Cincinnati Masters.
Fish had earlier pulled off a surprise turnaround win over fellow countryman Andy Roddick to claim a 4-6, 7-6, 6-1 victory and advance to his third Masters series final.
Meanwhile, Federer had an easy route to the last-four after a bye, retirement and walkover allowed him into the last-eight without a full set of tennis. However, the Swiss’s serve was particularly impressive as he won 90 per cent of his first service points.
Rain timely
Fish had been on the verge of defeat against Roddick before a short rain-break offered him a glimmer of hope. Ninth-seed Roddick had served for the match 5-3 up in the second set before Fish’s unlikely comeback began.
The game had been tight in the first set until a 40-minute rain-break disrupted proceedings and on the return to the court Roddick broke and took the set.
Roddick then grabbed a 5-2 lead in the second. With Fish about to serve to stay in the match, rain returned for another 10 minutes. Fish held serve then broke Roddick and pushed the set to a tiebreak which he won in style against a floundering opponent. Fish cruised to a 6-1 victory in the third set to make it to the final.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 23rd, 2010.
World number two Roger Federer comfortably beat Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis 6-4 6-3 to set up a meeting with American Mardy Fish in the final of the Cincinnati Masters.
Fish had earlier pulled off a surprise turnaround win over fellow countryman Andy Roddick to claim a 4-6, 7-6, 6-1 victory and advance to his third Masters series final.
Meanwhile, Federer had an easy route to the last-four after a bye, retirement and walkover allowed him into the last-eight without a full set of tennis. However, the Swiss’s serve was particularly impressive as he won 90 per cent of his first service points.
Rain timely
Fish had been on the verge of defeat against Roddick before a short rain-break offered him a glimmer of hope. Ninth-seed Roddick had served for the match 5-3 up in the second set before Fish’s unlikely comeback began.
The game had been tight in the first set until a 40-minute rain-break disrupted proceedings and on the return to the court Roddick broke and took the set.
Roddick then grabbed a 5-2 lead in the second. With Fish about to serve to stay in the match, rain returned for another 10 minutes. Fish held serve then broke Roddick and pushed the set to a tiebreak which he won in style against a floundering opponent. Fish cruised to a 6-1 victory in the third set to make it to the final.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 23rd, 2010.