Mardy Fish, Ernests Gulbis withdraw from Sony Open in Miami
Mardy Fish is still the third-ranked American man behind Sam Querrey and John Isner. (John Cordes/Icon SMI)
Is next week's Sony Open about to get hit with a rash of withdrawals?
As first reported by USA Today's Doug Robson, Mardy Fish, who made his season debut in Indian Wells, will skip the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Key Biscayne, Fla., and reassess his plans for the clay season. Fish is making a slow comeback after seven months away from the tour due to complications from a heart arrhythmia.
"Unfortunately I won't be able to compete in Miami this year friends," Fish tweeted. "Hope to be out there again soon! Thanks for the love and support in IW!"
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Meanwhile, Ernests Gulbis also withdrew from Miami, according to Romi Cvitkovic of Tennis Grandstand. The Latvian, who had won 13 consecutive matches before losing to Rafael Nadal in the fourth round of Indian Wells, was set to play in the qualifying round of the tournament.
https://twitter.com/RomiCvitkovic/status/312620785804144640
The Sony Open still had one main-draw wild card remaining for the men, but Gulbis doubted it would go to him.
"I can ask," Gulbis said in Indian Wells, "but I don't think somebody's going to give a Latvian guy a wild card. Let's be honest. Doesn't matter how good he plays."
Having played 14 matches in the span of less than three weeks, the prospect of having to go through qualifying for the third straight tournament couldn't have been appealing for Gulbis, who was ranked outside the top 100 three weeks ago. He'll shoot up to No. 55 on Monday.
Roger Federer is already skipping the tournament. Victoria Azarenka withdrew before her quarterfinal match at Indian Wells, citing tendinitis in her right foot. She plans to play Miami but also admitted her recovery is day to day.
