Falla through as Fish flounders at Melbourne Park
Mardy Fish of the US hits a return to Alejandro Falla of Colombia during their men’s singles match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 18, 2012. — Reuters pic MELBOURNE, Jan 18 — American number one Mardy Fish was sent crashing out of the Australian Open second round 7-6 6-3 7-6 by Colombia’s Alejandro Falla today.
Fish, seeded eighth, had to battle back just to force a tie break in the third set but lost it 8-6 to fall at the second hurdle for the second year in a row at Melbourne Park.
Lefthander Falla summoned up a brilliant lob after a 30-stroke rally to take a 5-4 lead in the deciding tiebreak and survived some late nerves to claim victory when Fish blasted a forehand wide.
The 28-year-old world number 71’s prize for the upset is a third round meeting with Germany’s Phillip Kohlschreiber. — Reuters
