Wildcard Haas beats Federer in Halle

HALLE, Germany: Germany's Tommy Haas defeated second seed Roger Federer 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 to win the Halle grasscourt tournament on Sunday to become the ATP's second oldest champion. Playing in front of his home fans, the 34-year-old wildcard added to his triumph at the same venue three years ago to take his 13th ATP title. Swiss great Federer, the second seed, was seeking a sixth win at this Wimbledon warm-up event having booked his seventh final ticket with a straight sets semi-final win over unseeded Russian Mikhail Youzhny. Haas, a former world number two, secured his place in the climax with a defeat of compatriot Philipp Kohlschreiber. Injury-plagued Haas has only recently returned to the tour after a 14-month absence.
In that time, he underwent hip and right shoulder surgery which sent his ranking plummeting to 200. He came into Halle at 87 in the world with Sunday's victory expected to move him back into the world top 50. France's Fabrice Santoro remains the oldest champion, winning the 2008 Newport tournament when he was 35. The German, who went through qualifying at the French Open last month before going onto to reach the third round. He has also been awarded a wildcard into Wimbledon. Sunday's victory was Haas's third career win over Federer after beating his better-fancied rival at Halle in the semi-finals in 2005 and 2006, against 10 defeats, the last in the semi-finals at Wimbledon in 2009. Federer broke to lead 3-1 in the opening set but proceeded to lose three successive games to find himself trailing 4-3. Haas went on to clinch the set on a winning serve in 50 minutes. In the second set, Haas broke to lead 5-4 and serve for the match, winning when Federer put a return long. (AFP)