By Dustin Dow
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MASON - The $200,000 runner-up check didn't seem to matter much to Mardy Fish after losing a nearly even championship match to one of his best friends.

One hour after he lost to Andy Roddick 4-6, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (4) in the championship match at the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters Sunday, Fish still hadn't forgiven himself for squandering two match points in the third set.

"I'm sure I'll look back, you know, in a couple days or whatever, once I get over the fact that I did have two match points to win my first tournament," Fish said in his post-match press conference. "I'm sure I'll just say it was a great tournament, but I'll always, hopefully not forever, say, 'What if. What if I could have won one of those points.' We'll see I guess."

It could have been Fish hoisting that championship trophy on Center Court at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. All he needed to do was win one more point on two separate occasions when leading 5-4 in the third set. But Roddick, more experienced in championship situations with 10 career titles, surprised Fish both times by serving to the wide part of the box, Fish's backhand. The first time, Roddick hit a 104 mph. service winner to bring the score back to deuce. After Fish regained the advantage, Roddick came back with a 116 mph ace. Both serves were far below Roddick's normal speed, but their placement prevented Fish from getting a solid return. Roddick won the game two points later, and went on to win the set and the match in the third-set tiebreaker.

"I thought he was going to go forehand like he was the entire match," Fish said. "I mean, it's probably something I'll think about for a while."

Sunday's loss overshadowed what Fish accomplished in this tournament, winning 74 straight service games, and breaking through into the Top 30 for the first time in his career. He saved 21 straight break points during the tournament, including five on Sunday.

"That was the first time I've ever lost a match when I didn't lose my serve," he said. "And it just happened to be in the finals of one of the biggest tournaments, the biggest match of my life."

Fish sounds as if he can't wait for a rematch.

"I know him a lot better than everybody else does out here, and I think he knows that he doesn't scare me," Fish said.

"I definitely respect his game, but I definitely think that I can beat him. I know he doesn't scare me, and I think he knows that as well."