Mardy Fish’s career ended with his legs cramping badly in a fifth set at the US Open.
The 33-year-old American had a chance to serve out an upset of 18th-seeded Feliciano Lopez in the fourth set of their second-round match on Wednesday, but nerves took over. He had three straight unforced errors then double-faulted to be broken at love, and Lopez quickly won the next two games as well to force the deciding set.
Fish, whose career was derailed by anxiety disorder, hung in there in the fifth on a hot, humid day, but his legs were clearly cramping more and more and he was able to move less and less.
Finally when he was serving at 3-4, his leg seized up in the middle of a point. Lopez, who was dealing with nerves of his own in the final set, broke then closed out the 2-6, 6-3, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 victory after 3 hours, 11 minutes.
Fish, a former top-10 player, decided to end his career here to try to make some new memories at Flushing Meadows.
Lucky winner Daria Kasatkina, the 133rd-ranked Russian teen had lost in the qualifying on Friday, but when third-seeded Maria Sharapova withdrew on Sunday because of an injury, she was suddenly in her first Grand Slam main draw as a ‘lucky loser’.
She proceeded to upset 38th-ranked Daria Gavrilova in the first round the next day, then won again on Wednesday to become the first lucky loser to reach the women’s third round since 1993.
Kasatkina defeated 79th-ranked Ana Konjuh 6-4, 6-4.
Meanwhile, young American Madison Keys reached the third round at the US Open for the first time.
The 19th-seeded Keys needed just 54 minutes to beat 100th-ranked Tereza Smitkova of the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-2 in a matchup of 20-year-olds.
Keys has now advanced to at least the third round at every Major this year, which started with her breakthrough run to the semifinals at the Australian Open.
Murray, Federer advance On Tuesday, Roger Federer glided into the second round, while Andy Murray ushered Nick Kyrgios out of another Grand Slam.
Murray had beaten 37th-ranked Kyrgios in straight sets in their three previous meetings, eliminating him this year from two other Grand Slams, in the Australian quarterfinals and third round at Roland Garros.
“I expected a very tough match, and that’s what I got,” Murray, 28, said after winning 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 6-1.
Earlier, second seed Federer was the envy of a clutch of men’s players made to work overtime in the 90-degree heat by quickly dismissing his opening opponent.
Federer dashed past 34th-ranked Leonardo Mayer of Argentina 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 to launch his campaign for a sixth U.S. Open crown.
“I feel good now,” said Federer. “I actually wasn’t so confident yesterday and today. I just felt like maybe (this) could be one of those matches I just couldn’t see coming.
“Thankfully I took this match extremely serious,” said the 34-year-old Swiss, who had fought off five match points in beating Mayer last year in Shanghai.
