U.S. Open: Mardy Fish wins, Ryan Harrison loses

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Ryan Harrison, hoping to keep progressing in his summer play which has brought his ranking to No. 67 in the world, said he was confident before his opening U.S. Open match Monday against 27th-seeded Marin Cilic of Croatia.

And then the 19-year-old American started playing. He said his shots didn’t feel good. His mood became less upbeat as he’d get ahead with service breaks and then give them back. He started playing faster and faster as his temper became hotter and hotter and when it was over, Harrison was a cranky 6-2, 7-5, 7-6 (6) loser.

Another American, Mardy Fish, had a much more enjoyable day. The 29-year-old from Beverly Hills, who is seeded eighth, felt comfortable enough to hit a between-the-legs shot because he was always ahead of his 25-year-old German opponent, Tobias Kamke, playing only his second-ever U.S. Open match. Fish won, 6-2, 6-2, 6-1, in 1 hour and 43 minutes.

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-- Diane Pucin in New York