Fish Swallows Agassi, Faces Roddick in ATP San Jose Final

Posted on February 16, 2004

In a first-time meeting, American Mardy Fish stunned countryman and former No. 1 Andre Agassi 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 in the Saturday semifinals at San Jose. In the Sunday final, Fish will face another former No. 1 in Andy Roddick, who survived a 7-6(3), 6-2 challenge from American wildcard Robert Kendrick.

"Fish was playing really fluid, real easy, he hit all the corners," said Agassi, who hasn't won a tournament since April 2003. "He hit a couple of good shots at the right time, that turned the momentum. He made me play from start to finish. I didn't come through in the second set, that gave him more confidence."

Roddick leads the head-to-head with The Fish 2-1, with all three meetings occurring last year. Fish came back from a set down to beat Agassi, who is a five-time winner at San Jose.

In Milan Saturday, No. 97-ranked 30-year-old Frenchman Anthony Dupuis reached the final with a straight-set win over countryman Gregory Carraz. Dupuis will contest the final against teenager Mario "Baby Goran" Ancic, appearing in his first ATP final after ousting Thomas Johansson in straight sets. Ancic and Dupuis are tied 1-1 in their career meetings, splitting both their encounters in 2003.

"After I saved that service game from 15-40 (at 2-2 in the first set) I think I played pretty good," Baby Goran said. "I was serving well, mixing it up and after I broke him for the first time, he dropped his first-serve percentage and was able to break him again in the second set. I was aggressive when I needed to and was able to control the match. Against Anthony (Dupuis) we played twice, both times tough matches, he won one, I won one. I have to continue to play as well as I did this week because it's going to be difficult to beat him."

Sunday's Vina del Mar dirt final will be contested between two former winners in Gustavo Kuerten and Fernando Gonzalez. The No. 2-seeded Guga beat defending champion David Sanchez in straight sets in his semifinal Saturday, while Gonzo beat back Brazilian Flavio "Of Yesterday" Saretta in straights. Guga leads the career head-to-head with Gonzo 2-0, both on clay. In the doubles final, (2)Palmer/Vizner d. (WC) Italians Bracciali/Galimberti for the title.

WTA REVIEW/PREVIEW
Today at the Paris-indoor, top-seeded Kim Clijsters will meet the unseeded Mary Pierce, a former Paris-indoor winner hungry to establish herself once again within the upper echelon on the WTA Tour.

Clijsters stomped Russian qualifier Dinara "Sister of" Safina 6-1, 6-1 in her Saturday semifinal, while Pierce brought the "I'm a legend in France and you're only 16" down on Tatiana Golovin, dismissing her countrywoman 6-4, 6-0.

"I'm really pleased with the match today," said Clijsters, back to crushing the opposition after her thrre-set quarterfinal win. "I was aggressive from the first point and I had her on the back foot and out of her comfort zone for most of the match."

Clijsters and Pierce have only met once, last year in Filderstadt where the Belgian won 7-6(2), 6-0. The doubles final will be Farina Elia/Schiavone vs. Schett/Schnyder.   

NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
Forced to play the qualifying over the weekend in Rotterdam due to the solid-quality main draw are "Dr." Ivo Karlovic, France's Paul-Henri Mathieu and Thierry Ascione, Stefan Koubek and veterans Alex Corretja and Marc Rosset...The draw ceremony in Rotterdam will be followed by an exhibition match played on a giant pontoon court (50 x 14 meters) floating down the Maas river: "When it reaches Boompjeskade, the pontoon will sail close to the quayside so that the public will have a good view of the court and the players. Spectators on the Erasmus Bridge will also have a perfect view of the spectacle, which is being organised by Ahoy? Rotterdam in collaboration with Rotterdam Marketing and the ATP," say Rotterdam officials. Nice one...Venus Williams withdrew Saturday from Antwerp after aggravating a knee injury. Organizers said Williams will not play, losing a chance to win three straight Diamond Games titles and a $1.3 million diamond-studded tennis racket awarded to any three-time champion.