Fish sinks Berdych to keep American flag flying

LONDON (Reuters) - Mardy Fish kept the U.S. flag flying at Wimbledon on Monday by beating last year's runner-up Tomas Berdych 7-6 6-4 6-4 to book a quarter-final place as the other American survivors exited the tournament.

Tenth seed Fish edged a first-set tiebreak 7-5 before pulling away from the Czech sixth seed to set up a last-eight clash with either defending champion Rafa Nadal or Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro.

Compatriots Serena and Venus Williams were bundled out of the women's draw earlier on Monday before Fish chalked up 23 aces and signed off with an emphatic smash.

"That was one of the best serving days of my life," Fish said in a televised interview.

(Reporting by Tom Pilcher, Editing by Ed Osmond)