Tommy Haas isn’t quite done yet.
Haas’ retirement from tennis may be a matter of just weeks away, but he showed on Wednesday at the Mercedes Cup that he still has plenty left in the tank if he wants to keep going. The 39-year-old shocked top seed and 18-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer 2-6, 7-6(8), 6-4 during second-round action.
Haas stormed back from a set and a break down, getting back on serve at 2-2 in the second set and eventually saving a match point at 7-8 in the tiebreaker when Federer sailed a backhand long.
One break in the third was enough for Haas to pull off the stunner.
“I’m a little bit speechless that I beat him today,” the German commented. “It’s been a while since I have won back-to-back matches and to do it today against Roger is obviously one of my career highlights. It’s a very special feeling. At the same time, he’s a very close friend of mine so it doesn’t feel like such a celebration in that sense. This is my last phase, so the emotions are different from what they would have been a few years ago.
“This is sport. Unfortunately, one person has to lose and lately a lot of the time it has been me. I was happy to be out there in front of a German crowd playing against a friend, an idol, a legend, the greatest ever. It’s fantastic.”
It was hardly a fantastic day for Federer, who was playing for the first time since capturing back-to-back Masters 1000 titles in Indian Wells and Miami in the spring.
“I thought it was a typical grass-court match today,” Federer explained. “Rallies weren’t very long and it was decided on a serve there or a return here. If you don’t take your chances like I didn’t, leading (by) a set and a break, you really only have yourself to blame at the end. You’ve got to acknowledge the fact that he was a bit better. It’s quite frustrating, but that’s the way it goes sometimes.
“It wasn’t all bad; not at all. There were definitely some good moments, but I was not as sharp as I was hoping to be in the big moments, or the moment when I had the lead and where I feel I should have been cruising from that moment on. I definitely made some crucial mistakes and judgment errors.
“Tommy definitely played well when he had to. He hung around and was able to push me in the second set. In the third set I couldn’t get up to the level I wanted. I should have somehow broken him once, but I wasn’t able to do that.”
Less certain about his Wimbledon chances now. Pretty stunning loss
He should not have lost such a match on grass. Have to think someone could take him out early at SW19.
My sentiments exactly.
Not too surprised or worried to be honest
First match after 2 1/2 months off against a former #2 playing in his home country who beat him on grass a few years ago? I wouldn’t panic just yet. If he loses early at Halle, then questions can be asked. This same thing happened after his post-AO break against Donskoy, a way worse player than Tommy Haas, and he went on to win both IW and Miami just a couple weeks later. History shows that it means nothing. We’ll see if it means something next week… I think it could be a good thing that there won’t be any chance of him playing two full weeks back to back so shortly before Wimbledon. I, personally, was always skeptical of him playing Stuttgart and Halle…
A bit different now compared to AO; after AO he’s playing on same surface i.e. HCs. He’s playing on a different surface now, and, Fed is also susceptible to big hitters on grass these days – remember Wimbledon last year when he almost lost to Cilic in five sets? He lost to Raonic in the next match anyway.
Still, I expect Fed to go deep at Wimbledon, and if by then he hits top form then he won’t be worried of anyone.
Kevin,
I agree with your take on Fed’s early loss to Haas. The same thing did happen with Donskoy and we know what happened
after that. I think Halle will give us a better idea of where Fed is at. He doesn’t need as much match play as Rafa. One tournament should be enough prep for him.
I still think Fed has a good shot to go deep so Wimby. But I am not giving him the title yet. Murray seems to be getting back into good form and should be ready at Wimby. Then we have the big servers and the next gen guys.
Compared to Clay season, Rafa has won all the events he entered except Rome, while Roger has faltered at the first match he played on Grass to a “much much” older guy??? I thought he had a lot of practice already and what he actually wants is match play? Let’s see if Fed bounces back at Halle next week leading to W.
You can practice until your arms and legs fall off, but it doesn’t mean shit for being on the match court. Murray and Rafa both practiced very intensely during their respective slumps (Rafa 2015/2016 and Murray this season) and they still struggled to get the desired results. Federer doesn’t need to worry about practicing his actual shots- he needs match play to get his legs fresh and to be in high-pressure situations like against Haas. In my opinion, if he had had matches under his belt, he wouldn’t have choked away that match despite how great Haas played. I’ll say it again- if he loses early again at Halle, then he could have a problem on his hands… He gets a pass until it happens on a bigger stage or happens consecutively.
Kevin says AT 4:36 PM: “…and Rafa both practiced very intensely during their respective slumps (Rafa 2015/2016…)”
.
Rafa couldn’t practice ‘very intesely’ in 2016, because he had problems with his left wrist. He injured the wrist in spring and skipped the end of the season because of the wrist problem.
I have written a zillion times (!) about Rafas’ problems in 2015.
I don’t read much into it given the time off.
Especially on the slick fast courts there.
Bit of a coin toss is all.
Don’t forget, Federer lost to Zverev in a warm up before Australian Open.
Halle will be completely different story.
Ah well, so much for the Wimby fav……
Looks like Fed will have as much pre-Wimby match play as Rafa. He can of course dust off the cobwebs at Halle, expect him to.
Wimby just got a whole lot more interesting……….
Lol no it didn’t
Lol, please do not disturb my fervent hope that Fed somehow forgets to play grass court tennis and is swiftly dismissed in the first week at Wimby before we can say, “strawberries and cream”!
*hopefully at the hands of the mighty Mallorcan*………… C
I Very much doubt Federer would lose too much sleep over this loss, he hasnt played for ages and is most likely rusty, its early days in his comeback, lets see how he fairs in Halle ….
The difference is Rafa builds his confidence by winning and having matches under his belt, Federer doesnt really need to do that as much ….
Alison,
I agree with both your posts. I already agreed with Kevin’s take on Fed’s loss to Haas. He should be a bit rusty after being off for a while. He just needs to shake it off before Wimby.
Fed and Rafa have always been different regarding preparation for slams. Rafa dies thrive on match play to get his rhythm, timing and confidence going. Fed does not need all that match play.
I am with Kevin in saying that nothing is amiss unless Fed should get knocked out early in Halle. I think he will be ready to go when Wimby comes around.
The last time that Federer took a haircut prior to Wimby, he did not win it … But in this case he was just rusty and should be ready for Halle .. http://www.138mph.com/curse-of-the-haircut-a-roger-federer-sob-story/
Totally agree w/Benny (above)…no worries, no concerns…the GOAT WILL be ready for AELTC!!!!
Agree with benny and the other Dimon. Not too surprised or worried.
The GOAT WILL be ready for AELTC to fight for his third Wimby title and 16th overall!
Vamos GOAT!
?
Ratcliff, it all depends on who you consider to be the Goat 🙂 🙂 🙂
Well, yes, I agree 🙂 littlefoot.
But how many GS has Federer? I thought is was more than 16 but wanted to hear if Hawkie had tossed a couple out lol…
Oh okay duh…he was not talking about Federer he was talking about Rafa. I got it now. Hawks saying Vamos Goat about Federer didn’t make sense either hahahaha
🙂
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
#Gotcha
Honestly I can’t remember how many Wimbledon titles Federer, Rafa, Djokovic or Andy have won. La Decima is unforgettable tho!
I think Rafolurray each have 2. And Roger is tied with Pistol Pete with 7.
Djokovic has 3 Wimbly, one RG, two USO and six AO.
Nope, Djoko has three Wimbledon titles (2011,2014,2015); Rafa two (2008, 2010) and Murray two (2013,2016).
Fedal plus Djoko/Murray have 14 Wimbledon titles in total, just four more than Rafa’s 10 FO titles!