tennishead hotstuff: Tommy Haas
Tommy Haas
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Who would have thought the player to get the tennishead Hot Stuff treatment would be tour veteran, 31-year-old Tommy Haas? Well he is, and deservedly so.
The German former world No.2 has been very much outside most people’s radars in the past couple of years after undergoing shoulder surgery in November 2007 – he slumped to a lowly ranking of No.87 in March.
But after scaring the life out of eventual French Open champ Roger Federer (he was five points from victory in their fourth-round clash) the boy Haas caused a stir by shocking world No.4 Novak Djokovic in the final of the Gerry Weber Open in Halle on Sunday.
The 6ft 2” world No.35, took out Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Philipp Kohlschreiber along the way, proving he can still mix it with the big boys on grass as well as clay.
Haas, who turned pro in 1996 and has been gruelling it out the circuit for 13 years, was the youngest ever player to finish in the top 50 in 1997 (aged 19) and in 1998, finished as the No.1 German for the first time.
Among the star’s impressive 12 career titles is the 2001 ATP World Tour Masters Stuttgart trophy; the 2004 Houston and Los Angeles titles; the 2006 Delray Beach and back-to-back 2006 and 2007 Memphis titles. In fact, Memphis was the last title he won before Sunday’s silverware.
“It’s such an incredibly nice feeling to hold up the trophy again and to be in Germany as well, in front of German fans is even more special,” Haas said after beating Djokovic 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-1.
“I’ve won on every surface at least once which is a great accomplishment for myself. It’s a great day.
“After a few setbacks here and there, struggling a little bit, having ups and downs throughout this year even, it makes everything go away in some ways when you have these kind of moments. This is what you play for.”
