The farewell tour of Mardy Fish came to a roller coaster ending on Wednesday. The American who had previously announced the U.S. Open as his last tournament lost a thrilling five set match to Feliciano Lopez 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 5-7, 3-6.

Fish Reels In The Opening Set

Lopez and Fish exchanged service holds for the first four games, and it was the American who was made to work harder. He fought off a break point in his second service game to square the set at 2-2. Fish would get into Lopez's serve in the fifth game as the Spaniard made more errors in his ground strokes to compound things. Fish worked his first break point of the match and converted as Lopez smacked a forehand into the middle of the net. The American would struggle a bit, but hold to consolidate the break 4-2.

Lopez continued to spray the court with unforced errors to work himself into a 0-40 hole on serve. He brought it back to deuce, but again whipped a forehand wide that gave Fish a fourth look at a break point. Fish attacked on a second serve and another wide forehand from Lopez gave Mardy the bonus break to 5-2. He would close it out on serve 6-2. Fish's serve was a difference maker in the opening set. He won 82 percent on his first serve, while Lopez won just 53 percent off his. Both had problems with unforced errors with ten each.

Feliciano Fires Back In The Second

The early stages of the second set saw Mardy Fish have to work hard on his first service games. Lopez crafted a break point that Fish would save. After a couple of trips to deuce, the American would eventually hold with some solid work off the ground. The service holds were stronger for both as the set grew with neither winning more than a point off the other until the sixth game.

With Fish serving, Lopez quickly worked to a triple break point situation with Fish making some errors. On a second serve, Lopez would crack Fish as he put a backhand shot into the net with the Spaniard going up 4-2. Lopez continued his strong serving with a quick love service game to consolidate the break for a 5-2 lead. The lefty would avoid the wobble and close out the set 6-3 on his third try at set point. Lopez's serve was massive with seven aces for the set and winning 21 of 27 points on serve. Fish continued to struggle getting first serves in with just 48 percent being put into play. That allowed Lopez to win seven of 12 points off the second serve.

Mardy Strikes Early In The Third

The third set began well for Fish as he was winning in the rallies and worked a quick break to take a 2-0 lead as Lopez made multiple unforced errors in the second game. Fish would leave no room for a break back as he took care of his service game to-love and rolled out to a 3-0 lead. Lopez showed some visible frustration with his play as the players changed ends. The Spaniard most annoyed by his ground strokes continuing to let him down this set.

The American would nearly score an extra break of serve in the next game, but Lopez was able to fend off two break points to get on the board, 3-1. Following a Fish hold, Lopez still couldn't find the range again on serve as he was broken for the second time in the set for a 5-1 lead to Fish. Mardy would serve out the set 6-1. Fish had his best set, getting in 70 percent of his first serves. His first serve was dominant with 13 of 14 points won by Fish. Lopez had a terrible set, only winning 40 percent of his service points and spraying nine more unforced errors. The Spaniard's unforced errors total climbing to 28 for the match.

Fourth Set Bounces Back And Forth

The set started with Lopez still unable to find the range on his serve or ground strokes as Fish took the first break point he saw in the opening game for a 1-0 lead. After exchanging holds to 2-1, Lopez finally found his game a bit as he worked a double break point situation off Fish's serve. Fish would miss on a backhand into the net as the set went back on serve at 2-2. Lopez was a bit shaky on serve as he handed out another break opportunity, but Fish was unable to capitalize as Lopez held to 3-2. Three straight service holds took the set to 4-4 when Lopez had more issues serving as Fish cashed in on the second break chance of the game to go ahead 5-4 with a chance to serve for the match.

Nerves perhaps got Fish immediately as he was broken back at-love. Lopez would hold to 6-5 and then took advantage of some more tension from Fish to break and close out the fourth set 7-5. Errors really killed Fish as the set went on with 16 total for the set, almost a third of his total for the entire match. The American's first serve which was so good early, won just 56 percent of the points this set as he struggled again to get the first serves in at 52 percent.

Cramps Hinder Fish Down The Stretch

Fish did well to put the disappointment of the fourth set behind him as he traded holds with Lopez to 2-2. In the fifth game, Fish had his chances as Lopez allowed for two break points. The Spaniard would come up with a couple of big saves to hold at 3-2. Fish struggled some through his next service game, but held to 3-3.

There was a glimmer of hope for the American as Lopez again was loose on his service game and gave Mardy a look at two break points. Big first serves though were able to negate the advantage and saw the lefty hold to 4-3. Things began to unravel for Fish late as he started suffering from cramps in his left hamstring. He was broken at-love to give Lopez a chance to serve out the match at 5-3. There was not much chance for Fish at less than 100 percent over those last games as Lopez made sure to hold and finish off the set.

The Fish Legacy

A loss was likely to come at some point this first week of the US Open for Mardy Fish. After all, he had played just a handful of matches this season in his farewell tour after missing 18 months due to his anxiety issues and a heart ailment. The end result was never going to matter for Mardy.

His legacy was cemented simply by being able to persevere through everything and make it to a final appearance at the US Open. it was a bonus that he gave the fans a thrill in the opening round with a win over Italian Marco Cecchinato. It was a bigger thrill today for him to show that he still had it at age 33 to compete and be in position to beat a player ranked in the top 20. There are 302 victories officially to the credit of Mardy Fish's ATP tennis career, but the biggest one of all was simply being on court this week and going out on his own terms.

Next For Lopez

The 18th seed is in the third round for the sixth straight year at the U.S. Open. This could be his best shot to make the fourth round since 2010 as he gets a gimpy 10th seed in Milos Raonic.

Raonic made it through his second round match with Fernando Verdasco in four sets, but was definitely afflicted by the back issues that forced him to cancel a practice session yesterday. The two have split six career meetings with Lopez beating Raonic 7-6, 6-4 a few weeks ago in Cincinnati.

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About the author
Chris Spiech
Tennis fan who still is not sure exactly how he became a tennis fan.