Chapter 1814 Generation Change
Mardy Fish, along with Roddick, was once hailed as the successor to Sampras, Agassi and other legendary American tennis players. However, the cruelty of competitive sports is never merciful, and like the great waves, geniuses are lost in the crowd and return to the ordinary.
Fish can be considered one of them.
His career-high world ranking was seventh, and his best record in a Grand Slam was the quarterfinals - once each at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open - but only once.
Not only has he never been able to reach the semi-finals in a Grand Slam, but he has also never won a Masters title in his career, not even a 500-point tournament, and only has six 250-point tournaments. Even more regrettable is that he has been eliminated in the first round of the four Grand Slams more than once.
From any perspective, this is not a "top player's career", even the first tier is a bit of a stretch, and the chances of being in the Hall of Fame should be slim.
But why is Fish always considered an important figure in American tennis? In fact, Fish is a talented player. Although he was born in North America and his best performance in his career was almost all in North America, he is different from Roddick. He is not a typical hard court player. His hitting feel and line layout are full of inspiration and imagination.
He has defeated Federer and Nadal, as well as Del Potro, Wawrinka, Berdych, etc., and has entered the semi-finals and finals of the Masters many times, but he always lacks a breath at the critical moment.
In four Masters finals, facing Roddick, Federer, Djokovic and Djokovic respectively, he won a set in all of them, but unfortunately lost in the deciding set.
On the one hand, injuries are a serious obstacle.
This player, whose strokes were inspired and delicate, suffered wrist injuries more than once in his career and even nearly retired in 2005.
On the other hand, there is the issue of anxiety.
In 2012, Fish was first troubled by heart disease and then suffered from severe anxiety. In the following two years, he participated in very few competitions.
After a long period of treatment and adjustment, Fish was ultimately unable to return to the court. In July this year, he announced his official retirement after the US Open.
In the final analysis, Fish spoke out and used himself as an example to make people realize for the first time that
Before becoming players, professional players are first ordinary people, ordinary people who can get angry, nervous, anxious, uneasy, timid and hesitant. In the stressful competitive sports environment, like ordinary office workers, they also face enormous pressure and have psychological problems.
Before Fish, people actually always knew about the problem, but no one mentioned it or discussed it, let alone paid any attention to it, because it was not conducive to commercial promotion or brand packaging, and sponsors and event organizers did not want to see these discussions.
Fish, however, made his voice heard.
Even though it is weak and not really taken seriously until many years later, it is the truth that a single spark can start a prairie fire. The first spark must appear, otherwise there will be no follow-up.
Fish's voice is particularly precious.
A potential top player with talent and strength, but stopped before reaching the top due to injuries and psychological problems. Such a story is certainly not the first or second time in the long history, but Fish made people hear his voice, which is different.
Those who plant trees will enjoy the shade.
It is because of this that Fish always has a special position, perhaps not so important or so glorious, but it always exists.
In fact, after returning to the court eighteen months later, Fish still showed excellent competitiveness.
In Cincinnati, he swept Troicki cleanly in the first round, but lost to Murray in two hard-fought sets in the second round. The scores of "4:6" and "6:7" were very close.
Fish stepped onto the Flushing Meadows court for the last time, returning to the Grand Slam stage after three years. In the first round, he faced the Italian rising star Marco-Cecchinato, who was born in 1992. Although he lost in the first set tie-break, he gradually got into the game in the next three sets, swept the whole set and won the game in a reversal.
After the game, some reporters also asked questions. Fish has once again proved his ability and now seems to be fully healthy. Is he willing to continue fighting?
"After all, Roger is still at the top level."
Fish's attitude towards this is very clear and explicit.
He said that he was tired of the long-term high-intensity professional competitions and the intensive schedule of long-term traveling, and he needed a good rest.
Returning to New York is not because I miss the stadium, but because I need to put an end to it.
During this farewell journey, Fish had never thought that he would be facing off against Gawain, the current leader of the Youth Storm, but thinking carefully -
Maybe this is a perfect farewell.
Starting from the golden generation, to Federer and Nadal, and now to Gawain, his career was not that long, but it was able to go through four generations of players. Regardless of win or lose, Fish has witnessed, experienced and experienced it. At least, he has appreciated more scenery than Roddick, who retired in 2012.
There is no doubt that Fish's retirement also means the end of another era for American men's tennis, and the US Open organizing committee should pay attention to it; but from another perspective, the US Open has always had clear goals and puts interests above everything else. Are they willing to adjust the venue arrangements for Fish? In short, does Fish deserve the treatment of a retirement ceremony at the center court?
Before the US Open kicked off, industry insiders continued to voice their opinions, saying that Fish deserved better treatment and hoped that the US Open organizing committee could show some sincerity.
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However, the reality is still cruel and even disappointing. In the face of interests, everything is nothing.
Fish's first round match was scheduled at the Grandstand Stadium.
If Fish loses to Cecchinato, his retirement ceremony will be held at the Grandstand Stadium, and the tournament organizing committee will not make any special arrangements.
From professionals to fans and spectators, everyone shook their heads. It cannot be said that there was protest, after all, Fish's influence was far from comparable to Roddick's, but disappointment and regret were inevitable. In the cruel world of competitive sports, all glory and honor must give way to interests.
For other ordinary spectators, they even think that the US Open is very sincere. Fish and Cecchinato, one wild card and the other unseeded player, are able to enter the grandstand. Such treatment is the biggest adjustment and compromise that the tournament organizing committee has made within its capabilities.
Unexpectedly, Fish won.
and!
Fish's second-round opponent is very likely to be Gawain. When Fish advances, the daytime match has not yet ended, and the night match is even further away, so people generally speculate that if Gawain advances successfully, how will the tournament organizing committee arrange the venue for this match? The answer is -
Arthur Ashe Stadium, the main event of the day.
Such treatment!
Finally, I can finally get excited! (End of this chapter)