Mardy Fish could not contain his delight after making a winning return to Davis Cup action to help keep the US title defence alive.Fish last played in this event in 2004 but he was brought in from the cold to pair up with Mike Bryan in the doubles on Saturday after Bob Bryan was forced to withdraw with a shoulder injury.
Fish, who had never before played with Bryan in competitive action, could hardly have walked into a more testing situation either, with the United States 2-0 down following Friday's singles and knowing that a defeat would end their Davis Cup defence.
But the 26-year-old shrugged off those concerns to partner Bryan - who together with twin brother Bob is the leading doubles player in the world - to a 4-6 6-4 6-3 4-6 6-4 win over Spanish duo Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco in Madrid's Las Ventas bullring.
"It's meant the world to me, the Davis Cup is a huge thing," said a thrilled Fish following the win.
"I've been waiting four years. I hate that it happened at Bob's expense, but I've just tried to fill in as best I could.
"I was just happy to get another shot (at playing in the Davis Cup), regardless if I get to play again. I'm happy to fill in where I can."
Bryan, who was playing without his twin brother in a Davis Cup doubles match for the first time in over five years, also paid tribute to his new partner, saying: "I'm very happy with the way Mardy played.
"He kept me positive and he kept me up there. It wasn't easy but we stayed tough and got there in the end.
"We've been great friends for years and you play your best tennis when you are having fun.
"It was a hard-fought battle. Luckily we took our chances when we got them.
"We made it to the finish line. We got stopped at the fourth (set) but kept on running."
US captain Patrick McEnroe added: "This was an awesome performance by these two. For Mardy to come in and replace Bob... well he could've played the greatest game of his life but if they'd lost it would have been Mardy who would have been to blame.
"Mardy stepped in and played awesome."
The victory means Spain now hold a 2-1 lead heading into Sunday's two reverse singles, which will see Rafael Nadal face Andy Roddick and David Ferrer meet Sam Querrey.
First up is the mouth-watering showdown between world number one Nadal and big-hitting US hope Roddick, and McEnroe believes Saturday's doubles win is a huge fillip for his side ahead of that match.
"I couldn't be happier. Obviously it gives us a big shot of adrenaline and gives us a chance for Sunday, which we are happy about," he said.
"We have to try and win the first game tomorrow, which is obviously going to be difficult, but the conditions that there are here means we've got a chance," added McEnroe, referring to the high altitude in Madrid which could aid Roddick's game.
Spain's Lopez admitted he and partner Verdasco were just unable to make it to the finishing post despite a spirited fightback in the fourth set when all looked lost.
"It was a very close match," he said. "We had it tough to come back from 2-1 down and a break down. In the end they took their chances. It worked for them and we came up short."
The winners of this semi-final will face either Argentina or Russia in the final, with Argentina leading that tie 2-0 after the singles.
by espnstar.com
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