RICKY’S PICKS FOR CINCY AND MARDY FISH WINS IN CINCINNATI FAREWELL, AND ROGER FEDERER BEGINS HIS TITLE DEFENSE ON TUESDAY

Written by: Staff on 17th August 2015

RICKY'S PICKS FOR CINCY AND MARDY FISH WINS IN CINCINNATI FAREWELL, AND ROGER FEDERER BEGINS HIS TITLE DEFENSE ON TUESDAY |

“Mardy Fish defeauts Viktor Troicki 6/2 6/2! #MardyFish #Cincinnati” – Photo by @tennisphotosnews via Instagram.

By Ricky Dimon

It only makes sense that Mardy Fish’s first win in almost exactly two years came at what is arguably his favorite and best tournament. Fish, who reached the final, the semis, and the quarters of the Western & Southern Open in consecutive years from 2010 through 2012, beat Viktor Troicki 6-2, 6-2 on Monday afternoon.

The 33-year-old American saved all three of the break points he faced to prevail in just one hour and eight minutes.

Always a fan favorite, Fish received–and will continue to enjoy–even more crowd support than usual given that this is his last hurrah in Cincinnati. The world No. 7 has played sparingly in 2012 (and only two tournaments in 2015 prior to this one) and will retire at the upcoming U.S. Open.

“I was a little surprised at my level,” Fish said after trouncing Troicki. “I hadn’t practiced a ton or particularly well for a little while. I [had been] struggling with my serve. A friend of mine came in a couple days and helped, but it was still sort of a struggle even yesterday to sort of find my serve. I was obviously real happy with the level.”

Fish is joined in the second round by David Goffin, Benoit Paire, Ivo Karlovic, Bernard Tomic, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Vasek Pospisil, Jack Sock, and Roberto Bautista Agut.

Roger Federer will kick off his title defense against Bautista Agut on Tuesday. They will be going head-to-head for the fourth time in their careers and few matchups in tennis have been more lopsided since the summer of 2014. All three of their previous encounters have gone Federer’s way; none has been competitive. The 34-year-old Swiss cruised 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 at the U.S. Open, 6-4, 6-2 at the Shanghai Masters, and 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 earlier this season at Wimbledon.

“Before the rain came… It was an all-Swiss practice at @cincytennis! #ATP #tennis #cincytennis #Federer #Wawrinka” – Photo by @atpworldtour via Instagram.

Perhaps the only good news for Bautista Agut is that Federer is playing his first match since finishing runner-up at the All-England Club and therefore his first hard-court match since Indian Wells. But the world No. 3 is well-rested and returning to one of his favorite tournaments (he is a six-time champion after lifting the winner’s trophy in 2014).

Bautista Agut earned his spot against Federer by rolling over Pablo Cuevas 6-3, 6-4 during first-round action. The 22nd-ranked Spaniard is a modest 26-21 on the year and coming off consecutive second-round losses in Hamburg and Montreal. This has all the makings of one-way traffic for Federer.

Briefs

* Goffin overcomes Lu, keeps alive outside chance for top 12 U.S. Open seed

* Karlovic downs Simon, could reach top 20 even with second-round loss

* Sock eases past Fratangelo, almost certain to remain in top 30

* Bellucci takes care of Vesely, likely guarantees seed at U.S. Open

* Paire beats Muller, gives himself chance at top 40

* Kokkinakis defeats Fognini, banging on the door of top 70

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: 10sballs.com, Atp World Tour, Benoit Paire, Bernard Tomic, Cincinnati, David Goffin, Ivo Karlovic, jack sock, Mardy Fish, Ricky Dimon, Roberto Bautista Agut, Roger Federer, Sports, Tennis News, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Vasek Pospisil, Viktor Troicki, Western & Southern Open

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10sBalls_com says:

August 17, 2015 at 10:44 pm

-@Dimonator’s PICKS FOR @CincyTennis AND @MardyFish WINS, AND @rogerfederer BEGINS HIS TITLE DEFENSE ON TUESDAY- http://t.co/E9VdfBAeZP
Dimonator says:

August 17, 2015 at 10:50 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: -@Dimonator’s PICKS FOR @CincyTennis AND @MardyFish WINS, AND @rogerfederer BEGINS HIS TITLE DEFENSE ON TUESDAY- http://t…