Roddick’s form has enjoyed a dramatic turnaround in the past week. Playing with a new lease of freedom the American is showing the kind of form which took him to the Miami Masters title earlier this year. So far he has struck 42 aces in three matches.
He has beaten Robin Soderling and Novak Djokovic in consecutive matches to reach this stage, results which have brought him back into the world’s top ten. Djokovic‘s forehand was unusually erratic and Roddick took full advantage in their quarter-final, winning 6-4, 7-5.
“He's probably my best friend on tour, so I'm really happy to see him playing well,” Roddick said. “I just hope he doesn't do it tomorrow. I think we both understand that once you get in between the lines it's business, and we're trying to win a tennis match."
Roddick has a convincing 9-2 lead on the head-to-head and beat Fish in the 2003 final here, saving two match points that day. However Fish won their last match in Atlanta last month – 7-6, 6-3.
