MAKING THE TURN
Tennis|September - October 2021
Six years after saying goodbye to the protour grind, Mardy Fish may be more active than ever—on the court, on the course, and helping combat a struggle anyone can encounter
Peter Bodo
MAKING THE TURN

The tennis year is scheduled to end with the second episode of the reformatted Davis Cup, which will take place in three different host cities (Nov. 25 to Dec. 5). The U.S. squad will play its group stages in Turin, Italy, under the leadership of captain Mardy Fish.

A former Davis Cup player himself, Fish is also a remarkably gifted golfer. He experienced a career-damaging struggle with anxiety and emerged as one of the first and most visible of elite athletes to go public with his story. The 39-year-old remains a spokesman and advocate for mental health awareness—an issue that leaped into the sporting forefront with Naomi Osaka’s withdrawal from Roland Garros.

Have you been able to keep up with the players during the pandemic, and how do you rate their enthusiasm for Davis Cup?

A: The pandemic has made it tough to watch them live, but we keep in touch by text and phone. I used to be able to jump on the court to have a hit and come off thinking, “I can see why this kid is really good,” or, “I can see why he’s ranked No. 35.”

The older guys (John Isner, Sam Querrey, et al) remember what Davis Cup used to be; the young guys (Taylor Fritz, Reilly Opelka, Tommy Paul, et al) didn’t really experience it other than the new way. The enthusiasm level for the young guys seems pretty high. I haven’t even met some of the potential team members in person, like Sebastian Korda, but they all grew up watching Davis Cup. We haven’t skipped a generation yet, to where Laver Cup is something they know better than Davis Cup.

Q: Is there a danger that the ATP Cup has stolen the thunder from Davis Cup?

This story is from the September - October 2021 edition of Tennis.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the September - October 2021 edition of Tennis.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM TENNISView All
The Tennis Conversation: Jenson Brooksby, a piano man
Tennis

The Tennis Conversation: Jenson Brooksby, a piano man

Billy Joel may be a New York City icon, but the fans in Queens should start getting to know this piano man

time-read
4 mins  |
September - October 2021
The Five-Step Sit-Down Plan
Tennis

The Five-Step Sit-Down Plan

Don’t neglect the value of a smart changeover routine

time-read
2 mins  |
September - October 2021
MAKING THE TURN
Tennis

MAKING THE TURN

Six years after saying goodbye to the protour grind, Mardy Fish may be more active than ever—on the court, on the course, and helping combat a struggle anyone can encounter

time-read
9 mins  |
September - October 2021
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Tennis

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Queens is known for its gastronomy as much as its tennis. Daniil Medvedev, equal parts sugar and spice, hopes to add a unique flavor to the borough as he vies for his first major

time-read
9 mins  |
September - October 2021
SUMMER IN THE CITIES
Tennis

SUMMER IN THE CITIES

Broadway may not re-open until mid September, but tennis offers its own brand of live theatre in the preceding months

time-read
2 mins  |
September - October 2021
REOPEN SEASON
Tennis

REOPEN SEASON

The pandemic halted tennis as an up-close experience— but is now giving way to pandemonium among crowds. As the pro game reopens this summer and fans gather again, we’re realizing what we’ve been missing for so long

time-read
10+ mins  |
September - October 2021
Court of Appeals
Tennis

Court of Appeals

Resolving Your Rules Questions&Quarrels

time-read
3 mins  |
September - October 2021
An Open Mind: New York's Slam has no shortage of history, but it always evolves
Tennis

An Open Mind: New York's Slam has no shortage of history, but it always evolves

In the last decade, Arthur Ashe Stadium got a roof, and a new Grandstand and Louis Armstrong Stadium debuted.

time-read
2 mins  |
September - October 2021
Those Fall Feels
Tennis

Those Fall Feels

The end of summer may be bittersweet, but getting lost amid the backroads of NEW ENGLAND adds a silver—and golden—lining to the season change. Pack a few sweaters along with your tennis kit and prepare for leaf-peeping, scenic drives and delicious autumnal ingredients to pair with your forehands

time-read
6 mins  |
September - October 2021
Tennis

Court of Appeals

Resolving Your Rules Questions & Quarrels

time-read
3 mins  |
May - June 2021