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Chips are down for Fish

Image: Fish: Title bid

Russian Evgeny Korolev and US top seed Mardy Fish will face-off for the ATP Delray Beach International Championship crown on Sunday.

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American bids to become first homegrown champ since 2003

Mardy Fish is vying to become the first top seed to lift the ATP Delray Beach International Championship crown in the event's 17-year history. Fish will face Russian Evgeny Korolev in the final on Sunday after both men notched up straight-set wins in their respective semi-finals. Qualifier Korolev, cousin of retired glamour girl Anna Kournikova, beat Belgium's Christophe Rochus 6-1 7-5 at the hardcourt event. And Fish, ranked 21st in the world, ousted French seventh seed Jeremy Chardy 6-4 6-1 to stake his claim on the 79,000-dollar top prize. The 21-year-old Russian is chasing his first ATP title, while victory for the American would make him the first homegrown player to win the tournament since 2003. Ironically, he was on the losing end that year in an all-American final against Jan-Michael Gambill. Fish however, currently seeking his third career crown, has not won a title for almost two years. He has appeared in 12 ATP finals, his last win coming on clay in Houston in April of 2006.