Fish to meet Rochus in Hall of Fame final

American Mardy Fish has advanced to the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships final by beating British qualifier Richard Bloomfield 7-6 (5), 6-4 on Saturday.

Fish will play No. 4-seeded Olivier Rochus of Belgium, a 6-3, 6-2 winner over Brian Dabul of Argentina.

The fifth-seeded Fish will be in his second ATP final of the season and attempt to capture his fourth career title. He lost to countryman Sam Querrey at Queen’s Club last month. Fish was ranked 79^th entering the week.

Bloomfield, ranked 552^nd, faulted on eight of nine serves when he was broken in the ninth game of the second set. Fish closed it out at love in the final game.

Fish held serve at love four of five games in the second set.

The Briton’s first-round victory over Christophe Rochus of Belgium was being reviewed by tennis officials after online gambling exchange Betfair reported that the match attracted unusual action.

Bloomfield was also caught up in a betting controversy after his only ATP win before Newport, coming in 2006 when his 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Argentina’s Carlos Berlocq in the first round at Wimbledon was investigated following irregular patterns.

“I said to him before the match, the only two matches he’s won in his career and there’s been a gambling scandal,” Fish said. “He doesn’t seem like that type of guy. Maybe he’s got rich friends.”

Bloomfield was 1-10 in his career before winning three times on Newport’s grass courts.

“It’s been a great week, a fun week. I’ll remember it forever,” he said.