American Mardy Fish, the world's 53rd-ranked player, accepted a wild card
Tuesday into next week's Harrah's Entertainment $50,000 Men's Pro Challenger,
further strengthening the minor professional tennis tournament in Tunica.
Fish, who reached a career-best No. 17 world ranking in 2004, was a finalist
in the 2004 Athens Olympics. He joins an uncharacteristically solid
Challenger field that includes Mark Philippoussis, Jan-Michael Gambill and
James Blake, regulars on the ATP Tour.
"That might be one of the highest-ranked players to play in a Challenger in
five years," said tournament director Keith Evans of Fish's entry.
The Pro Challenger, a 32-draw event, will be played Monday through May 7 on
Tunica National Golf & Tennis Club's indoor clay courts. There is no
admission charge for on-court bleacher seating. VIP seating for $20 a day
will be available in an enclosed galleria area overlooking the courts.
Evans said there is a slight possibility that Fish could gain direct entry
into next week's ATP Tour event in Rome. He is the third alternate.
If he doesn't make the Rome field, Fish will play the Tunica Challenger
ranked roughly 60 spots ahead of No. 2 seed Jeff Morrison. Also expected to
be among the top eight seeds are Justin Gimelstob (ranked 117th), Gambill
(124th), Paul Goldstein (138th) and Amer Delic (156th).
Fish, 23, was the No. 6 seed in February's Regions Morgan Keegan
Championships at The Racquet Club, the annual ATP Tour stop in Memphis. He
dropped a second-round decision to unseeded American Robby Ginepri. Fish's
win over Blake was one of only five he's had in seven ATP Tour events this
year.
Challenger events routinely draw a mix of veterans and up-and-coming pros
trying to gain rankings points for automatic entry into major events.
The Tunica field, according to Evans, is attracting a strong field because
it's being played in the U.S. on clay three weeks before the French Open.
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