Tommy Robredo rose to fifth in the world on the strength of precise, patient probing from behind the baseline. Today, Robredo reached the third round of the Australian Open thanks in part to some improvisational skills at net. Lunging to his left to deflect a backhand volley, the scrambling Spaniard recovered, read Mardy Fish’s reply and flicked a flying forehand volley winner down the line to earn match point.
Pumping his fists like a college kid on “The Price Is Right,” Robredo’s payoff came on the next point, as he closed out a 1-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 conquest of Fish to reach the third round for the fifth time in the past seven years.
Fish took a Vitamin B-12 shot on Tuesday in hopes of energizing a body depleted by a mysterious virus and drained from a dramatic five-set first-round comeback win. Unable to sustain a strident start today, a flagging Fish could not find a panacea for the problems posed by Robredo, who avenged a 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 loss to Fish at the 2008 Aussie Open.
Fish’s physical freefall came after persevering to a career milestone. On Monday, Fish fought back from a two-set deficit for the first time in his career, staving off Victor Hanescu, 2-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-3. Returning to Court 3, the site of his comeback, Fish flowed through the first set, but couldn’t keep pace with the unerring Robredo the rest of the way. Since reaching the 2008 U.S. Open quarters, Fish has failed to surpass the third round in seven of his last eight major appearances.
Though his ranking has dipped to No. 52, Robredo is so steady he even the most devoted grinders look like they’re playing speed chess in comparison. Repetition is rooted in Robredo’s junior days; his father was a teaching pro, and he often looks like he’s not getting warmed up until he’s hit 15 balls in a rally. Often, it didn't take that many shots to coax an error from the 16th-seeded American. Fish served out the opening set in 33 minutes while blood snaked from a gash on his right knee, but ultimately leaked 51 unforced errors compared to 27 for Robredo.
Four American men—Andy Roddick, Ryan Harrison, Sam Querrey and Fish—were in the bottom half of the draw on Monday morning. Now only the eighth-seeded Roddick remains, as the 18th-seeded Querrey and wild card Harrison failed to survive the first hurdle.
In contrast, Fish competed with grit and guile in his five-set first round win, but looked listless and distracted at times today, sometimes bouncing his palm off his racquet face or tugging at his shoes. Robredo played controlled baseline tennis in setting up a third-round clash with Sergiy Stakhovsky, with the winner potentially facing defending champ Roger Federer for a spot in the quarters.
—Richard Pagliaro