Fish mentally, physically ready to return

Mardy Fish reacts after defeating Gilles Simon, of France, in a match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament Saturday, Sept. 1, 2012 in New York. (AP/Darron Cummings)

Mardy Fish says he feels mentally and physically ready to return to the ATP Tour.

The 31-year-old American has played in just one event since pulling out of the U.S. Open before his fourth-round match last September. He missed about 2 1/2 months earlier in 2012 because of an accelerated heartbeat but has implied that his recent absences have been more about preparing himself psychologically to compete at the highest level.

Fish plans to play tournaments in Atlanta and Washington this month.

On a conference call Tuesday to promote the Citi Open in the nation’s capital, Fish said: "You just try to get in the best possible mental state."

Fish has been ranked as high as No. 7 in the world.

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