Mardy Fish's Farewell Adds Extra Intrigue to 2015 US Open Series

Another tennis season will soon build to a soaring climax under the bright lights of glitzy New York. Most of the focus these next few weeks will undoubtedly be on Serena Williams' quest for a calendar Grand Slam, as well as top male contenders Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.

But one player's redemptive farewell is also worthy of attention.

Former American star Mardy Fish is set to bid adieu to the game at the U.S. Open, a fitting place to conclude his whirlwind career. For a long time, the thought of seeing Fish back on a court seemed like a distant possibility. Yet here he is, ready to ride off into the sunset on his terms.

In the season of blockbuster movies, Fish may soon have his own Hollywood ending.

The 33-year-old recently took to Twitter to announce his intentions to play three tournaments this summer, offering fans one final chance to say goodbye to the charismatic Minnesotan: 

"

My schedule this summer will be Atlanta, Cincinnati, and I will finish my career at the US Open. #lastride

— Mardy Fish (@MardyFish) July 22, 2015"

And what a ride he's endured. Fish's heartbreaking story has already been well-chronicled, but it bears another brief summary.

At age 21, Fish won the singles silver medal at the 2004 Olympics and seemed destined to usher in a new era of American dominance alongside Andy Roddick. That dream didn't come to fruition. Roddick fell victim to the Federer avalanche, while Fish battled through several years of mixed results.

Things changed for Fish a half-decade later. Tired of being just another guy on the tour, he set out to transform his body and eventually shed 30 pounds from his frame. His renewed commitment to fitness would soon pay off.

During his renaissance 2010 season, Fish charted his way to a 40-14 record and two titles. The following year, he climbed into the top 10, peaking at a career-best mark of No. 7 and qualifying for his sole appearance at the World Tour Finals. 

That momentum came crashing down in 2012.

John Bazemore/Associated Press

While in Miami for a tournament, Fish awoke one night when his heart started racing violently. Frightened, he rushed to the hospital and was later diagnosed with an arrhythmia—a potentially fatal condition.

He'd try to carefully manage the situation with an electrocardiogram, but Fish would eventually undergo surgery after more setbacks. Even that didn't prove to be a lasting remedy.

Fish's biggest hurdle became mental as he tried to cope with what had happened, suppress fear in the back of his mind and meticulously watch his health. He struggled with the traumatic nature of his illness at that year's U.S. Open, where he suddenly pulled out before his fourth-round match against Federer. 

After a six-month sabbatical following that incident, Fish returned the following March, but his anxiety attacks intensified. After retiring during the middle of a match in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, that summer, Fish effectively walked away from the game.

He spent the entire 2014 season on the sidelines pondering where to go next and searching for peace. With the help of his family, a new hobby in the form of golf and a combination of therapy and medication, Fish made tremendous progress.

Quietly, he started training again and even prepared to play doubles with Roddick at the U.S. Open. Drug-testing rules quashed that dream, but Fish kept his sights on a triumphant return to singles action.

A year-and-a-half removed from his last competitive match, Fish resurfaced this past February at the Tennis Championships of Dallas.

Competing next at Indian Wells, Fish bowed out in the first round to Ryan Harrison in a high-quality duel. That tough loss spoke highly of his incredible resiliency. Written off, Fish instead began to author a new, more satisfying conclusion to his tennis story.

Harry How/Getty Images

When he revealed his plans to play singles and doubles (with Roddick) at this year's Atlanta Open, he set in motion his path to New York. 

As Fish told the Associated Press (h/t ESPN): ''Obviously, it's no secret, I'd love to go back to the U.S. Open, where sort of it all came crashing down for me in 2012, and sort of conquer that place. And by 'conquer,' I mean just get back out on the court there. I have a lot of demons from that place.''

His intense journey toward recovery and reclamation is the type of inspiration we should all draw upon. It's rare for an athlete to be so suddenly derailed by the issues Fish encountered, and the extreme nature of his situation proved costly.

And yet he never gave up. 

Not content to let the pains of the past overshadow him, Fish will make amends with his career during this extended farewell. Fans should savor the chance to see him complete such an uplifting return.

Fish is a shining example of the powerful force of the human spirit. He's also put into focus something not discussed as openly as it should be: mental health. For anyone dealing with similar issues, his tale of survival is nothing short of heroic. 

All statistics are courtesy of ATPWorldTour.com unless otherwise noted. 

Joe Kennard is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. 

Follow @JoeKennard.