Seven brilliant Tommy Haas facts as he hangs up his racquet

Tennis lost one of the good guys this week as Tommy Haas finally announced his retirement, but did you know these great facts about the German?
1. Haas was spotted at age 11 by Nick Bollettieri, who offered him free residence and training at his Florida tennis academy.
Bollettieri’s other students include: Maria Sharapova, Daniela Hantuchová, Jelena Janković, Nicole Vaidišová, Sabine Lisicki, Sara Errani, Tommy Haas, Max Mirnyi, Xavier Malisse, Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Martina Hingis, Anna Kournikova, Marcelo Ríos, Kei Nishikori, and Boris Becker.
2. Tommy Haas never reached the top of the world rankings. The closest he ever got was to world number two on 13 May 2002.
He only stayed there a week before settling into the number three slot for a while.
During that week when the rankings were as good as they’d ever get for Haas, Lleyton Hewitt sat atop the tennis world with a 32-year-old Andre Agassi at number three.
Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Marat Safin, Tim Henman, Gustavo Kuerton, Thomas Johansson, Juan Carlos Ferrero, and Sebastian Grosjean made up the rest of the top ten.
3. According to the ATP, Haas finishes his career with an overall win percentage of 63%.
His strongest surface was hard, where he won 64% of his 551 matches and won 11 of his 15 career titles.
4. When Tommy Haas famously shocked Roger Federer in Stuttgart in 2017, several records tumbled.
Haas became just the third player to beat Federer twice on grass, joining Novak Djokovic and Lleyton Hewitt. Haas previously beat Federer in the 2012 Gerry Weber Open final.
Haas also became the oldest player to beat a Top 5 opponent since Jimmy Connors, 39 years and 5 months, defeated the then world number three Michael Stich in the second round of the 1992 Memphis Open.
Ranked at number 302 at the time, Haas was the lowest-ranked player to beat Federer since Bjorn Phau (world number 407) at the 1999 Citi Open.
5. Haas’ wife, Sara Foster, is an actress who has appeared in many TV shows and movies, including 90210, The Big Bounce, and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
She also stars in a show called Barely Famous, which is a spoof of her own life.
6. Haas’ 563 career wins makes him the second most successful German male player in the Open era.
Boris Becker (713) is the only German who can boast a better record.
7. Haas’ body underwent a great ordeal during his career.
The German had nine surgeries to repair his right shoulder, right elbow, right hip, right foot, right ankle and left ankle.
His hip injury was similar to that which Andy Murray now struggles, with Hass ominously recently saying: “I was 32 at the time and I knew that if the surgery did not go well or if I didn’t put the effort into rehab it might be the end,” the German told BBC Radio 5 live.
“Will Andy ever be the same? Will he ever move the same, with the foot speed that gives him the confidence at the top of the game? That remains to be seen.”
Want to test your knowledge on Haas’ great career? Find out how much you know by taking our quiz!
Latest
-
WTA Tour
Emma Raducanu blows past former World No 1 to reach last 16 in Cincy
Emma Raducanu was clearly the better player as she claimed her first win over a top 20 player since her US Open title run.
-
ATP Tour
Andy Murray goes down swinging as Cameron Norrie scrapes battle of the Brits
Andy Murray claimed the opening set but Cameron Norrie saved nine break points and downed the former World No 1.
-
US Open
US Open wildcards: Venus Williams and Dominic Thiem handed slots
Williams, who won at Flushing Meadows in 2000 and 2001, will compete at the age of 42.
-
ATP Tour
ATP Race to Turin: How things stand as tour rolls into Cincy
The ATP Race to Turin is getting tight.
-
Tennis News
Rafael Nadal cautious but excited ahead of ATP Tour return
Rafael Nadal says that he ‘has to be careful’.
-
US Open
Gael Monfils’ injury woes continue as he withdraws from US Open
Gael Monfils ruled out of another Grand Slam.
-
WTA Tour
Emma Raducanu urged to stick with Dmitry Tursunov by former British No 1: ‘Her tactics were good’
Emma Raducanu and Dmitry Tursunov off to a good start in Cincy.
-
WTA Tour
Simona Halep hits $40m mark in WTA career-prize money earnings, only behind Serena and Venus Williams
A look at where Simona Halep sits on some of the all-time WTA lists.
-
Tennis News
Exclusive – John Lloyd opens up on his broken marriage to Chris Evert
John Lloyd believes his marriage to Chris Evert was doomed to fail as the pair were simply too young and had the eyes of the world on them.
-
ATP Tour
Andy Murray vs Cameron Norrie, Rafael Nadal vs Borna Coric: Start times, TV and streaming info
What time will Andy Murray take on Cam Norrie? What about Rafael Nadal and Nick Kyrgios’ matches?