PETE ZIEBRON
Tommy Haas hitting with good friend Roger Federer in Cincinnati last year. Pete Ziebron Images
Former world #2 Tommy Haas of Germany fought his way through 3 qualification rounds last week and gained entry into the main draw at Roland Garros. Haas, currently ranked #112, was seeded 11th in qualifying and advanced to play Filippo Volandri of Italy on the 4th and final match on Court 3 on Monday.
Three years ago, Tommy Haas was involved in one of the most memorable matches at Roland Garros in recent times. In a blockbuster 4th round match, Haas faced world #2 Roger Federer, the day after Rafael Nadal lost to Robin Soderling. Federer's Career Grand Slam resume was only lacking the Roland Garros crown at that time.
Despite not winning a single point on all of Federer's service games in the 1st set, Haas managed to win all of his service games as well and the 1st set went to a tiebreaker. Finally, Haas would win points on Federer's serve in the breaker and he stole the opening set 7-6(4). Haas would go on to take the 2nd set 7-5 and the unthinkable was beginning to set in for Federer.
However, immediately after a Haas forehand down the line went just wide deep into the 3rd set, Federer would break Haas, win the 3rd set 6-4 and proceed to steamroll his way to victory. Tommy Haas would only win 2 more games in the next 2 sets and Federer would go on to win Roland Garros in 2009, sealing the Career Grand Slam in the process.
Haas would take positives out of his close call with Federer and win the grass tournament in Halle a few weeks later, defeating then world #4 Novak Djokovic in the Final. Ironically, Haas would beat Djokovic once again in the Wimbledon quarterfinals before losing to eventual Champion Roger Federer in the semifinals.
Only a few weeks ago, Haas defeated world #5 Jo-Wilfired Tsonga on clay in the 2nd round in Munich before crashing out in the semifinals to Marin Cilic. Earlier this year, Haas played competitively against world #2 Rafael Nadal, losing in the 2nd round at the Australian Open 4-6 3-6 4-6.
Following the match against Nadal in Australia, Haas was asked if he could see himself playing competitively on tour for a few more years:
"That's a big question. That's really the question I have to see for myself. That's going to be very interesting what happens in the next I guess three, four, five months.
If you don't get wild cards, then it becomes tricky where you have to play qualifying and maybe go back and play some challengers. I'm not sure if I'm up for the task doing that.
At the same time, when I play at certain moments like today like I did today, you know, I feel like I can definitely still play with some of the big guys and maybe still have some success. That's the challenge that I have to ask myself, if I'm still willing to do that after so many injuries, after being on the road now for 15 years, and, you know, if I still want to do that. So these are discussions I have to obviously have for myself, with my team, with my family, and then see if it's going to be worth it."
Defeating the #5 player in the world 6-1 6-4 earlier this month should give Tommy Haas all the motivation he needs to continue to battle on the ATP Tour.
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