Mardy Fish faces a serious test against Latvia's Ernests Gulbis in the second round of the Japan Open.
Fish hasn't had the easiest of draws in Tokyo, having to rally to see off young American star Ryan Harrison in the first round. Fish was given a bruising examination by his compatriot in his first match since the US Open, coming back from a break down in the deciding set before edging through 6-4, 3-6, 7-5.
It was Fish' 40th victory of a standout 2011 season which has already seen him make finals in Atlanta, Los Angeles and Montreal. However these courts are not the best for him and he'll find things difficult today against Gulbis, a man who's put him in a spot of bother a couple of times already this year.
Gulbis pulled off the upset 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 in Los Angeles in the summer and nearly did it again in Montreal as Fish scraped into the quarters 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Gulbis has such brute power off the ground, it's hard for Fish to contend with from the back of the court. The American is a better mover but in these conditions he has to rely on his serve to keep him in the match.
Prediction: Gulbis in three.
