By Neil Schmidt
The Cincinnati Enquirer

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Tuesday's play

MASON - Kelly Jones should be packing, for he's moving from Cincinnati to Miami, Fla., in five days. But he wouldn't mind having his protègè, Mardy Fish, keep him busy the rest of the week.

Jones is Fish's coach, and Fish won his first-round match Tuesday in the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters, beating Mark Philippoussis 1-6, 6-3, 6-4. Fish will play Xavier Malisse today in the second round.

"Kelly has been awesome," Fish said. "We're having a lot of fun, and we're kind of starting to click."

Fish dropped his previous coach this time last year and asked the USTA to find him an interim replacement. Jones works for the USTA as what's called a national coach, instructing players of various age and ability levels.

Fish started playing well under Jones, and the interim job became full-time. The 21-year-old player from Tampa, Fla., who was ranked No. 131 at this time last year, is up to No. 41.

"He keeps expecting more and more of himself," Jones said. "It's still a transition period, but he's coming into his own."

Fish is 26-19 this year, having made his first two finals appearances of his career - in Delray Beach, Fla., and Nottingham, England. Earlier this year, he beat top-5 player Carlos Moya twice in a row.

Jones said the match Tuesday is one Fish might have lost a year ago. Philippoussis is ranked No. 20 and has been hot this summer, having reached the Wimbledon final.

"If you lose your confidence after that first set, you can forget it," Jones said.

Fish instead kept calm and found his rhythm. He started to handle Philippoussis' massive serve and converted two of the three break points he got.

"Maybe a couple years ago I might have gone down 6-1 to a guy in the top 20 and just kind of bailed," Fish said. "I just stayed positive and aggressive. It's going to help me confidence-wise to know I can hang in there and anything can happen."

Jones, a San Diego native, reached No. 1 in the world in doubles with partner Rick Leach in 1992 and won two career singles titles. He retired in 1998, a year after moving to Cincinnati with wife Tami Whitlinger-Jones, a former top-40 player in her own right.

They are moving to Miami so Jones can work at the USTA's training center there. It also will be closer to Fish's Tampa residence.

"The USTA is happy to see a guy (Fish) give back to the program," Jones said. "He hits with kids and things like that. He's a great guy."

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E-mail nschmidt@enquirer.com