Fatigued Fish flounders in Miami
Fish … dismissed at the first hurdle in Miami. AFP Fatigued Fish flounders in Miami 
From correspondents in Miami, USA
Former Australian Captain March 28, 2008
AMERICAN Mardy Fish, who shocked world No. 1 Roger Federer en route to the Indian Wells final last week, won’t be making a giant-killing run at the second ATP Masters Series tournament of the season.
Fish fell at the first hurdle
at the 7.54 million-dollar WTA and ATP hardcourt tournament, eliminated 6-3, 6-3 by France’s Arnaud Clement.
For Clement it was a welcome change of fortune after three straight first-round defeats in 2008, at the Australian Open, Marseille and Indian Wells.
The 75th-ranked Frenchman will face Spain’s Nicolas Almagro in the second round.
Fish was coming off perhaps the most impressive tournament of his career. He eliminated five seeded players at Indian Wells, including three top-10 players in Nikolay Davydenko, David Nalbandian and Federer.
He finally succumbed to Serbian Novak Djokovic in the final, but his performance saw him leap from 98th to 40th in the world rankings.
“It’s obviously a little disappointing to go out so early here,” Fish said. “But I’m going to take a lot of memories from last week.”
Fish said the letdown after such a week was mental rather than physical.
“It’s pretty much all mental,” said the American, a former 17th-ranked player whose career has been dogged by injuries. “I can’t remember the last time going deep into a tournament that I felt that good.
“I hired a trainer last Wimbledon, and we’ve been working most every week getting myself not only back to 100 percent, but feeling strong as well, going through tournaments.”
Fish said the work had helped him with recurring tendinitis in his arm that in the past could hinder him late in tournaments.
“So physically, I feel fine,” he said. “It’s the mental part of having to turn around and come back. OK, now I’m in the first round again.
“I really feel like beating all these great players maybe I should get a bye like maybe into the quarters or something. That’s obviously not the case.
“Mentally it’s really tough to come down from that.”
However, Fish said he knew it was a skill he would need if he is to establish himself among the world’s best.
“That’s what’s amazing about these guys that come back,” he said. “Roger just keeps winning and winning, and comes back the next week and plays fine.
“I’m guessing that if last week happens more often than it does for me, I’m a little bit better at re-energizing and refocusing.”
Agence France-Presse