Tommy Haas hinted in the build up to this year’s US Open that, at the age of 37, this might well be his final appearance in New York. The German headed into the season’s fourth Grand Slam after recovering from a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to shoulder surgery and in the end it seems that a lack of fitness was the deciding factor in his first round defeat to Fernando Verdasco.
Haas started off the better of the two in this battle of the big shotmakers and secured two breaks of serve, without facing any break points on his own serve, en route to securing the first set 6-3. But as is usually the case with Verdasco it was an up-and-down affaire. The Spaniard is capable of producing the highest highs but also the lowest lows and the second set was undoubtedly a case of the former as he steamrolled over Haas, taking it 6-1 and levelling things up.
Set number three produced the best tennis of the match as both players exchanged breaks; Haas producing a wonderful cross-court forehand on the run to go a break up at 2-1 before Verdasco brought it back to 3-3 after dictating play with his powerful shots. The set headed to a tiebreak which looked clear to be a turning point in the match. The experienced Haas knew he had to make the breaker his if he was to have any chance left in the clash as there wasn’t an abundance of petrol in his tank and he dutifully delivered by winning the tiebreak 7-3.
The momentum was clearly with the German who squandered a break point in the opening game of the fourth set. After this he slowly but surely started fatiguing and really struggled to win his service games, while Verdasco was holding his comfortably. It felt like it was just a matter of time before the lefty from Madrid would take full control of the encounter and the all-important break came at 3-3 and then again at 5-3 to round off the set.
The match headed into a fifth set; precisely what the doctor didn’t order for Tommy Haas. The German’s lack of sharpness was more than evident as he almost threw in the towel. Verdasco barely dropped a point on serve and closed out the match 3-6, 6-1, 6-7, 6-3, 6-1 in 2 hours 45 minutes, thus winning his third five-setter of the year. It doesn’t get any easier for the Spaniard in the next round as he faces number 10 seed Milos Raonic who swept past Tim Smyczek in straight sets.
As for Tommy Haas, he put up what was perhaps one final fight at the US Open. Not the way he would have liked to bow out but there was certainly no disgrace in this hypothetical farewell.
