Taxi for James Ward as he lets Mardy Fish off hook in five-set epic
Wimbledon
Friday 29 June 2012
Related articles
James Ward, the London cabbie's son, nearly pulled off the greatest win of his career yesterday as he pushed the No 10 seed Mardy Fish to a four-hour, five-set marathon. Fish eventually prevailed, and was almost as delighted with victory as Ward, the world No 173, would have been.
That is because it is only a month since the American had surgery to correct a heart abnormality he feared would kill him, or at the very least force him to retire. The 30-year-old woke up with palpitations in March and, having just read of Fabrice Muamba's collapse at White Hart Lane, feared the worst. Doctors established he was not in immediate danger of cardiac arrest but eventually decided to operate to be sure. Fish went back on the circuit, eschewing alcohol, reducing his caffeine intake and travelling with a heart-rate monitor. This was only his third match since March, and Ward could not have examined his fitness any further.
“I'm tired, but this is what you play for,” said Fish, a Wimbledon quarter-finalist last year. Of Ward he added: “He played a lot better than his ranking. He gave everything he had and was one of the tougher opponents I can remember playing here at Wimbledon.”
“I stayed in there as much as possible but he's a top player for a reason and he played well on the big points. In the end he was just a bit better than me,” said Ward. The Londoner was given a standing ovation by the No.1 court crowd and he said: “That was unbelievable. I've watched Wimbledon since I was a little kid and I don't recall too many of them so it was special. It was nice of Mardy, as well. He said the standing ovation was for me, so go out and enjoy it. That was nice.”
There was no hint of the drama to come at the start as Ward lost the opening three games before losing the first set 6-3. He was broken in his opening service game in the second as well but broke back to level at 4-4. He might have taken the set 6-4 but failed to take the first set point offered. Undaunted he broke Fish's next service game to win the set 7-5. Fish rallied to win a relatively brief third set 6-4, but Ward saved a match point to earn a tie-break in the fourth. This he won with successive challenges on Fish serves which had been called aces, but proved long.
As the sun beat down and the match moved into the fifth hour, the pair traded blows until the eighth game in which Fish forced three break points. Ward saved the first but then netted a forehand to give Fish the chance to serve out for the match. He took it, sealing the second match point with a 131mph ace.
Ward did not leave Wimbledon empty handed. After his first round victory he revealed he had sold his Arsenal season ticket as he could not afford it. The club, having read of his plight, sent him a goodie bag yesterday containing a replica shirt with his name on it, and an invitation to join them in the directors box at a match next season.
“They'd actually gone to a lot of effort to see who I've been playing,” said Ward. “It wasn't just, Good luck in your next match, it was against Mardy Fish. I appreciate it. Small details make a difference.”
Sport blogs
iBet: A tight game between Northampton and Bradford
A tight game could be in prospect here. Northampton have been keeping things very tight of late and ...
by Gareth Purnell
18 May 2013 02:01 AM
On The Road at the Giro d’Italia: Feeling ill and racing in the rain must be pretty grim
I can’t ever watch games of football or rugby without wistfully wondering what it must be like to be...
by Martin Ayres
16 May 2013 05:10 PM
PSG and the French league must be more proactive in dealing with hooliganism
Since PSG’s exit to Barcelona in the Uefa Champions League quarter-final in April, PSG have been sur...
by Matthew Riding
15 May 2013 02:37 PM
-
Tears and cheers as David Beckham ends glittering career after helping PSG to final win
-
Video: Emotional David Beckham leaves the pitch for 'the last time' with PSG
-
Tottenham face nail-biting finish as Arsenal look to secure Champions League place on final day of the Premier League season
-
Boxing: Carl Froch slams fellow Brits for sparring with Mikkel Kessler
-
West Brom v Manchester United: Premier League match preview
- 1 Heading for America? Prepare for the longest US immigration queues ever
- 2 Notes from a small island: Is Sealand an independent 'micronation' or an illegal fortress?
- 3 You thought Ryanair's attendants had it bad? Wait 'til you hear about their pilots
- 4 'Swivel-gate': David Cameron goes to war with the press over 'swivel-eyed loons' slur
- 5 It’s official: thanks to Stephen Hawking's Israel boycott, anti-Semitism is no more
Get your summer started with British Military Fitness
BMF is the UK’s biggest and best loved outdoor fitness classes
Visit York
Find out what The Independent's resident travel expert has to say about one of the most beautiful small cities in the world
Enter the latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Business videos from commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
The price of pacifism
Jason Isaacs: Groupies, theatre bores and James Bond
Sealand: 'Micronation' or illegal fortress?
Legend of James Hunt has set Hollywood hearts racing
Macklemore: 'I don't have moderation'
Don't be shy: Bill Granger's Sri Lankan recipes
Gordon Ramsay's worst nightmare: A restaurant he cannot save




Comments