Medibank International Sydney Tennis - Australian Open Series

Fish catches out Luczak

Thursday 14 January 2010 Comments

Peter Luczak’s Medibank International Sydney run has come to an end after the Australian was blunted by big serving American Mardy Fish in their quarter-final on Thursday night.

Wildcard Luczak battled gamely against the world No.55 but a handful of errors proved the difference in the 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 result.

Luczak, who had a successful 2009 on the Challenger circuit after a hip injury disrupted his 2008 campaign, lost his serve twice in the match with both breaks coming in the second set.

But that was enough for Fish to close out the match and advance to a semi-final meeting against Marcos Baghdatis on Friday.

Luczak was in the match up to his eyeballs in the first set, hanging in as the Floridian wound up on serve.

His preference for the drop shot – which he’d exhibited for much of the week here – proved to be his undoing as Fish more often than not anticipated the move.

A long ball serving at 5-6 in the tiebreak was enough to hand the first set to Fish, Luczak failing to lift his game to mount a serious challenge in the second.

Still, it was a good week for the Polish-born world No.78, who knocked off world No.20 Tomas Berdych in the second round and earned some new fans – as well as the respect of Davis Cup coach Todd Woodbridge.

The former doubles maestro was delighted with Luczak’s form and looked forward to having him vie for the second singles spot behind Lleyton Hewitt in the Davis Cup this year.

“It is strange, because he is 30 and is probably playing the best tennis of his career,” said Woodbridge.

“His expectations are about belonging at this level and that is what you need to get players to do.”

Tags: Mardy Fish, Peter Luczak

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