American Mardy Fish, Australian Open and US Open quarterfinalist, is the latest player to confirm the Brisbane International as the starting point for his Australian Open campaign.
Fish, currently ranked 23 on the ATP Tour, will line up against some of the biggest names in the game, including Australian Open Champion Novak Djokovic, and Australian Open finalists Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Marcos Baghdatis.
“I love playing in Australia and can’t wait to play in Brisbane,” Fish said.
“I’m told the climate and conditions are similar to my home town of Tampa, Florida and I am very excited to be playing in the very first Brisbane International.”
“This new tournament will be the perfect way to acclimatise to the Australian summer and prepare for the Australian Open.”
“There has been a lot of talk in the locker rooms about the new Brisbane International and it will be great to challenge the likes of Djokovic, Tsonga and Baghdatis in January,” Fish continued.
Brisbane International Tournament Director Steve Ayles is delighted Mardy Fish will be joining the high quality field in Brisbane.
“Mardy Fish is a fantastic addition to the star-studded player line-up for the much anticipated Brisbane International,” Ayles said.
“Brisbane and Queensland has so much on offer this time of year, and we can’t wait to launch the Brisbane International at our new world-class stadium to an enthusiastic Queensland crowd.”
“Ticket sales have been strong, we have more top players confirming over the next couple of weeks, and will soon announce a great off-court entertainment program, so the event is shaping up to be a fantastic experience for players and spectators alike,” Ayles continued.
Mardy Fish first shot to fame at the age of two when a Minneapolis, Minnesota, TV station ran a profile of the young athlete hitting tennis balls from the baseline over the net. After moving to Florida with his family, Fish lived with Andy Roddick in his final year at high school and played on the same school basketball and tennis teams.
Fish currently trains at Saddlebrook Academy with James Blake and has a 6-5 career Davis Cup record (4-4 in singles) in seven ties. Named the 2006 ATP Comeback Player of Year, Fish has won two tournaments on the main ATP Tour.
He reached the quarterfinals at the 2007 Australian Open, where he lost to compatriot Andy Roddick, and the quarterfinals at the 2008 US Open, where he lost to current World No.1 Rafael Nadal. His biggest win in singles came in 2008 when he defeated the then World No.1 Roger Federer at the Pacific Life Open.