Vero Beach's native son, Mardy Fish, talks tennis and life as he looks ahead to closing 2008 by co-hosting the third annual and expanded Mardy's Tennis & Jake's Music Fest to benefit the Mardy Fish Foundation, December 12-13, 2008.
This year's Mardy's Tennis & Jake's Music Fest, which Fish hosts with his boyhood friend from Vero Beach, country music recording artist Jake Owen, will once again
feature The Boulevard Village & Tennis Club as host sponsor and home of the tennis exhibition, a live performance by Owen at the Vero Beach High School
Performing Arts Center and a Dinner Party at Grand Harbor Beach Club.
In an exciting new addition to the weekend charity event, which takes into account both Fish and Owen's passion for golf, there will be a golf pro-am tournament that will tee off at the Grand Harbor Golf & Beach Club.
It's been a life-changing year for Fish, who married attorney/model Stacey Gardner, Mardy Fish in a 30-minute ceremony at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills before 150 wedding guests last month.
Gardner is an attorney and a briefcase model on the popular "Deal Or No Deal" TV show. Fish told Tennis Week in an interview prior to the wedding that his relationship with Gardner has brought a sense of stability to his life.
"Absolutely, Stacey has changed my life in so many good ways," Fish told Tennis Week. "It's a spectacular time in my life. Happiness equals success and if you're happy and content off court then you're gonna be in a nice calm state of mind on court. I'm very excited. I'm just gonna go for this and to have someone in my corner to spend the rest of my life with in good times and bad is a great gift. I saw how content and happy Andy (Roddick) was when he met the right person and got engaged. She's been a huge part of the success I've had in tennis this year and obviously in my life. I owe a ton to her."
The couple met through Fish's sister, Meredith Fish, who was working for Tennis Channel in Los Angeles.
"It was kind of a long shot in how we met," Fish told Tennis Week. "My sister worked with her sorority sister for Tennis Channel and that's how we met. We met in Los Angeles and really got along and the rest is history."
James Blake, Fish's good friend and former Tampa housemate, was a groomsman at the black-tie ceremony, which was also attended by Boston Celtics standout Kevin Garnett.
Fish beat Igor Andreev, Nikolay Davydenko, Lleyton Hewitt, David Nalbandian and Roger Federer in succession to advance to his second career Masters Series final in Indian Wells where he lost to Novak Djokovic. He was a semifinalist in Los Angeles, a New Haven finalist and advanced to his first career US Open quarterfinal.
Question: Mardy, congratulations on your recent marriage to attorney and "Deal or No Deal" model Stacey Gardner. Just generally, tell us what it feels like now
that you're a married man?
Mardy Fish: It feels great to have everything go so well at the wedding. It is a very exciting time now for me both on-and-off the court. It's definitely the happiest time of my life.
Question: You had a number of impressive results this year. Can you just look at your year? What were your favorite moments from 2008?
Mardy Fish: It has definitely been an up-and-down year this year with some great highs. My first quarterfinal at the US Open was a fun time as well as playing well during most of the summer. On the court my best moments were at the Pacific Life Open, making the final there and capturing a win over Federer was big. And then just playing so well at the end of the summer and into the US Open was great. Also getting to play Davis Cup again for the United States in Spain (Fish teamed with Mike Bryan in doubles to deliver the only point for the USA in the Davis Cup semifinal) was awesome. Obviously off-the-court, this is the greatest time of my life.
Question: You teamed with Mike Bryan in doubles at the Davis Cup semifinal against Spain, which the U.S. lost 4-1, and delivered the one point for the U.S. in
a tough five-set match. It must have been both a good and bad outing for you. Can you talk about being involved as a player on the team again?
Mardy Fish: Being a part of the team again was truly amazing for me. It's something that I love doing and love being a part of so much so that during the last few years I've gone along with the team just to help as a practice partner because I always want to be there to support the American effort in Davis Cup. It's an honor to represent your country. In the semifinal, the Spanish were just too tough of an opponent, especially on clay.
Question: What are you hoping for in terms of improvements in your game for the 2009 season?
Mardy Fish: My goals are to get back into the top 20 in the world. I am real close now (currently ranked No. 25) and it feels like I'm only one great tournament away from doing that.
Question: Your own charity event — Mardy's Tennis & Jake's Music Fest — in your hometown of Vero Beach seems to be growing each year. For instance, this
year you're adding a golf element to the weekend. Talk about how the event has grown, the desire to help the community you grew up in, and sharing the
stage, so to speak, with a close friend from childhood such as Jake Owen?
Mardy Fish: Vero Beach holds a special place in my heart having grown up there. It is great to be able to come back and do everything I can to give back to the
community that gave so much to me and to be able to do it with my best friend Jake is really special. Both Jake and I love to play golf, so it just seemed like a natural addition for our event. It offers people who like to play golf a way to take part in our event.
Question: Obviously, Jake's the musician in your friendship. How about your musical talent? Do you play an instrument and has Jake given you any musical
tips?
Mardy Fish: I don't play an instrument, although I do love music. Sadly, I'm definitely better at listening than playing or singing! So I think I'm best
off keeping a tennis racket in my hand.
The schedule for this year's Mardy's Tennis & Jake's Music Fest weekend is as follows.
December 12, 7-10 p.m.: Dinner Party at Grand Harbor Beach Club
December 13, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Golf Pro-Am Tournament at Grand Harbor Golf & Beach Club
December 13, 3-5 p.m.: Tennis Exhibition at the Boulevard Village & Tennis Club. Singles match features Fish vs. a current or former touring ATP professional and a doubles match to follow.
December 13, 8 p.m.: Jake Owen Concert at Vero Beach High School Performing Arts Center.
Fish created the Mardy Fish Foundation to support youth organizations in Indian River County. The Foundation has and will continue to utilize funds from Mardy's Tennis & Jake's Music Fest to fund after school programs in the community. The Foundation opened the Pelican Island Elementary School/Mardy Fish Music Club and Health & Fitness Club, September 11, 2007. The program provides a place for children to go and partake in various activities that will help them better themselves using sports, music, and art. The Mardy Fish Foundation hopes to expand this program in the community while also continuing to support other organizations, including the Boys & Girls Club of Vero Beach and Adopt A Family Project, which provides aid to low income families such as food and clothing.
Tickets for the Tennis Exhibition are $75 for box seats and $35 for general admission tickets. Tickets for the Jake Owen Concert are $100 for VIP seats, $75 for premier seats and $35 for reserved seats. Individual invitations for the dinner party are $150 and the Golf Pro-Am costs $750 per person and includes one invitation for the tennis, dinner and concert. For tickets to the tennis exhibition and concert, please call (866) 333-7623. For further information about the Golf Pro-Am Tournament and Dinner Party, please call C & H Events, Inc. at (561) 394-9190 or visit www.chevents.com.
