Fish at center stage for US men at US Open

NEW YORK - Back before Mardy Fish transformed himself into the player he is today, he compiled a record of 5-8 in his first eight visits to the U.S. Open, never making it past the second round from 2000 to 2007. Before changing his eating and workout habits, Fish didn't make it easy to put together a deep run at Grand Slam tournaments. Not only that, but he didn't necessarily believe he was capable of doing it. Nowadays? Story continues below ↓ advertisement | your ad here Here's how Fish talks about his chances at the hard-court U.S. Open, which is scheduled to start Monday: "I'll certainly feel like I can beat anyone especially on that surface, at that tournament." He has given himself reason to think that way, which is why he also has spent a season changing his goals, aiming higher than ever before, while enjoying the best stretch of his professional career at the old-only-by-tennis-standards age of 29. "I hope to keep playing the way I'm playing," Fish said. He is seeded No. 8 at the U.S. Open, the first time he'll be the top American at the country's Grand Slam tennis tournament. "His eagerness factor is very high," former U.S. Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe said. "And he's seeing the results consistently. He's saying, 'Hey, if I keep working hard, and I keep doing what I've been doing, then who knows what could happen?'" Fish spent a decade in the shadow of his pal Andy Roddick, which seemed to be just fine with the laid-back Fish. Roddick was the last U.S. man to win a major championship, at the 2003 U.S. Open, and used to be ranked No. 1, but recently dropped out of the top 20 for the first time in nearly 10 years. So now Fish has moved to the forefront. By serving and volleying, he earned first place in the U.S. Open Series standings based on performances on the summer hard-court circuit, thanks to winning one tournament and reaching the finals at two others. Playing on the same surface used at Flushing Meadows, Fish pushed top-ranked Novak Djokovic to three sets one week, then beat former No. 1 Rafael Nadal the next week. After upsetting Nadal in Cincinnati, Fish spoke about having "belief that I really felt like I could win; not that I 'wanted' to win — I really felt like I could and maybe should win." Results such as those boost rankings and draw attention. Just this week, in fact, Fish picked up a new sponsor: Bumble Bee Tuna (cue the name jokes). "He's playing the best tennis of his career, to be honest. I have been competing with him for the last couple of years, and, you know, he moves much better on the court nowadays and he's fitter," Djokovic said. "Mentally, he just believes it more against top players." Fish's ranking dropped to 108th on March 1, 2010, after missing time because of left knee surgery in September 2009. The 6-foot-2 Fish's weight topped 200 pounds before the operation, and afterward, he dropped about 30 thanks in large part to a complete overhaul of his diet. Fish cut out late-night snacks and meals consisting of pizza or cheeseburgers. He committed to eating healthy food in proper portions. It all permits him to move better on the court and play well in lengthy matches. That, and improvements to his forehand and other aspects of his game, have made Fish a wholly different player. "It is possible for someone his age to continue to improve. And remember: He's really just started to scratch the surface of his overall ability," McEnroe said. "This guy was a top-20 player even when he wasn't a physical specimen, so that tells you a lot about his tennis talent. And now he's taking it to the next level." At the French Open, Fish talked about wanting to make it to the third round for the first time — and he did. At Wimbledon, he wanted to get to the quarterfinals for the first time — and he did. It was his third visit to the round of eight at a major tournament, but he fell to 0-3 in those matches, losing to Nadal. Now he hopes for a longer stay in New York. "I'd still love to make it past the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam," Fish said. "And the U.S. Open would be a perfect one for me to do that in." A reporter wanted to know what it would take for Fish to accomplish that latest goal. "I'm not sure; I've never been there," he said. "I'd like to find out, as well."