Mardy Fish to Defend His Title in Rhode Island at Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in July
Defending champion Mardy Fish, who currently holds a career high South African Airways ATP World Tour ranking of number 15, will return to Newport, R.I. this summer to defend his title at the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships, July 4-10, 2011. The tournament, which immediately follows Wimbledon, is hosted on the historic grass courts of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, the only grass court pro tournament in North America and the only men’s ATP World Tour event in the Northeast.
Fish will be making his ninth appearance in Newport, where he defeated Olivier Rochus last year to capture his fourth ATP World Tour title. The victory came at the start of a summer hot streak during which Fish also won the title at the Atlanta Tennis Championships, having defeated fellow top Americans Andy Roddick and John Isner.
"Newport was a great week for me last year. It was good to see all the work I’d put into training pay off with a title," said Fish. "The Hall of Fame is a special place to compete and I look forward to returning to the tournament this summer."
Fish, who dropped 30 pounds early in 2010, credits his renewed commitment to health and fitness as the major factor in his successful season, in which he posted a career best 40-14 record and closed the season at a career high of number 16. In addition to the titles at Newport and Atlanta, Fish was runner-up at Cincinnati and Queen’s Club. Later in the season, Fish was the hero of the American Davis Cup team, winning two grueling five-set singles matches vs. Colombia in 3-2 World Group win. Fish has had a strong start to the 2011 season as well, posting two back-to-back semi-final results at Memphis and Delray Beach.
"Mardy has clearly worked very hard over the past year, and it’s been great to see his success continue following his Newport victory. He’s always been a strong competitor in Newport and we look forward to welcoming him back to defend his title this summer," said Mark L. Stenning, chief executive officer of the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
In earlier appearances in Newport, Fish reached the quarterfinals in 2000, 2002 and 2006 and captured the 2008 Newport doubles title with John Isner.
The Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships is an ATP World Tour event drawing 32 top male players to Newport direct from Wimbledon to compete for the Van Alen Cup and $442,500 in prize money. A highlight of the week will be the International Tennis Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, which will be held on Saturday, July 9 at noon, prior to the tournament’s semifinal match. Former world’s number one Andre Agass is the sole inductee in the Recent Player Category. In the Contributor Category, Peachy Kellmeyer, who was the very first employee and director of the WTA in 1973 and still serves the organization today, will be inducted for her immense contributions in the development of women’s tennis. Additionally, a variety of special events including Family Weekend, free tennis lessons, and the Angela Moore Fashion Show will complement another exciting week of ATP World Tour tennis.
For more information, visit www.tennisfame.com.
