August 21, 2013 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg
Former top-10 player Mardy Fish pulled out of the U.S. Open on Wednesday, the latest setback in his bid to make a comeback on tour after dealing with a heart ailment, citing ”personal reasons” for his withdrawal. Fish has played only eight matches on the ATP World Tour in 2013, going 3-5. He skipped all of the Grand Slam tournaments this season while entering only five other events on the main tour. On Tuesday, Fish stopped playing in the third set of his match against Jarkko Nieminen at the 2013 Winston-Salem Open due to heat stroke.
”Friends, unfortunately my health won’t allow me to compete this year at the U.S. Open," said Fish via his Twitter account. "Thank you for all your support.”
Last year, Fish reached the fourth round at the U.S. Open, but withdrew before he was to face Roger Federer for ”precautionary measures” on doctor’s orders. Fish missed about two-and-a-half months earlier last season due to an accelerated heartbeat.
Fish reached a career-best ranking of number seven in 2011, and is ranked 173rd this week. He is a three-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist once each at the U.S. Open, Wimbledon and the Australian Open, most recently at Flushing Meadows in 2011.
