Fifth-seed Mardy Fish defeated Frank Dancevic of Canada 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 6-4 to reach semi-finals at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships on Friday.
Fish blew a 5-2 lead in the first set and almost did it again in the third set, when he led 4-1.
PHOTO: EPA
Fish reached his fifth ATP semi-finals at the grass-court tournament.
He’ll play British qualifier Richard Bloomfield, a 5-7, 7-6 (7/3), 7-5 winner over 18-year-old wild card Ryan Harrison of the US.
Bloomfield, ranked 552 entering the week, will be making his first ATP semi-final appearance. The Briton’s first-round victory over Christophe Rochus was being scrutinized by tennis officials after online gambling exchange Betfair reported that the match attracted unusual action.
Fish had knee surgery in September last year, dropped 14kg and entered the week ranked 79th.
“I feel fine physically. When I had the knee injury I was hurting and I was too heavy,” he said. “I worked extremely hard with it — harder than anything I have my whole life. The results are showing.”
On Friday, he lost the first set when he hit a forehand return long. During the changeover, he had words with Dancevic and was issued a verbal abuse warning by the chair umpire.
“Nothing that doesn’t happen most matches for me,” the American said, smiling. “It was heat-of-the-moment type stuff.”
In the second set, Fish broke at love to go up 3-2. He closed out the set with a backhand shot down the sideline. He took charge by breaking in the first and third games of the final set for a 4-1 lead.
Dancevic, playing just his second tournament of the year after being sidelined by back surgery, said the lengthy match wore him down.
“I felt the heat a little bit in the third set,” he said.
Fish will be aiming for his second final of the season. He lost to Sam Querrey at Queen’s Club last month.
■BUDAPEST GRAND PRIX
AP, BUDAPEST
Defending champion Agnes Szavay cheered home fans by reaching the semi-finals of the Budapest Grand Prix with a 6-3, 6-1 rout of 2008 champion Alize Cornet of France on Friday.
The seventh-seeded Szavay reversed a loss to Cornet two years ago with six breaks of serve.
Next, she’ll face second-seeded Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania, who defeated Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia 6-7 (1/7), 6-2, 7-6 (7/4).
Dulgheru, who overcame a twisted ankle, became more aggressive in the second set instead of staying on the baseline and was able to rally for the victory.
Unseeded veteran Patty Schnyder, who lost to Szavay in last year’s final, followed her win over top-seeded Alisa Kleybanova by removing No. 8 seed Polana Hercog of Slovenia, who has a training base in Budapest, 7-5, 1-6, 6-4.
Schnyder will next play Zuzana Ondraskova of the Czech Republic, who beat fourth-seeded Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain a third straight time, 7-5, 1-6, 6-4.
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