What's more impressive, Mardy Fish winning the 2004 Olympic silver medal or defeating Roger Federer?

Silver medal is more meaningful. Twenty years from now he can show his grand children his silver medal, it will be in the record book forever. Two years from now everyone will forget about his win over Roger Federer because he didn't follow it up and lost to Djokovic today.

Good question. Normally I would put a victory over Federer higher than an Olympic medal. Maybe if it was a gold medal that might be different. But then again, this was not exactly a vintage FEderer. Nevertheless it took Fish to his first masters final. That has to be better than an olympic final.

*EDIT*

There are some sports where the olympics is the pinnacle. e.g. track and field, gymnastics, swimming, diving.

Tennis is NOT one of those sports. People who think winning an olympic medal is in the same category as a grand slam, don't know anything. I would barely put it in the same category as a masters event.

Going into the semifinals, Djokovic had the most easy draw and spent less time on court among the top 3....that's what Nadal said in his defeat to the Joker...and that is true...I'd say this gives him more of a chance to win the finals against Fish who has to beat three top 10 players on his way to the finals...But even if Djokovic wins this title, the gap in points between the top 3 will almost be the same considering the semifinal appearances of Roger and Rafa... Poor Djokovic, he has to win Miami to unseat at least Nadal....if this top 3 trio again reaches the semifinal of the next ATP event, then the race will be back to square one again...

Winning a medal at an Olympics should be as great as reaching a grand slam final.

Silver medal for sure.

Mardy knew Roger was not playing at his best, so the victory was sweet, but not as sweet as it would have been if Roger was 100%. He could see it from the other side of the net, unlike a lot of people on here who have no clue about mono.

good question.... both are great feats, and i am sure when he beat roger federer he must have been as high as a kyte...

although a silver medal is a silver medal, and i am sure many players would have loved to have achieved that.. so i think his win of the silver medal is greater

I think his win over Federer. I remember how he kept saying "he's tired" during his loss to Massu (sp?) and I don't remember him beating anywhere near as many top players as he did in the Pacific Life. His victory over Federer was extremely impressive because Federer hasn't been dominated like that in probably 5 years.

victory over Roger Federer

silver medal is more patriotic since he played for his country but the win against Federer was probably the best single match of his career

Defeating Federer because Federer could probably get gold in the olympics... EASILY