The last curtain has fallen! Tommy Haas had to say good-bye to his fans at the im GERRY WEBER STADION losing his opening match. Six days after his spectacular win over Roger Federer in Stuttgart the man from Hamburg lost in Halle/Westphalia in the first round 4:6, 4:6 against the strong Australian Bernard Tomic. 39 year-old Haas, who was triumphant in 2009 and 2012 in Halle/Westphalia, will end his professional tennis career at the end of this season.
"Shame I couldn't play my best tennis today. I will never forget Halle. The best moments in my career were winning here twice. It's important to me to bid farewell here and show up in good condition again. I want to say thank you for the tremendous support in the last years", Haas stated after his last match on the lawn in Halle while his daughter couldn't hold back the tears in the players' box.
Haas didn't find his game in front of around 9000 spectators, the game with which he had exalted them a week ago in Stuttgart. Tomic impressed overall by his strong service and didn't let Haas unfold in his return at all. Especially from the baseline the "Aussie" dictated the proceedings with his precise forehand and forced Haas to run time and time again, so that the 39 year-old wasn't able to stress anything aggressive at all. The German was able to fender off three break points, before Tomic used his forth chance and shortly afterwards turned the third set point to account.
With the drive from the first set win the Australian again took up speed and the "German-Dino" was left with no chance. Haas didn't find any means against Tomics' drives and under the eyes of many of his relatives and friends lost his second service game straight away. Now the Stuttgart-born Tomic, who didn't allow Haas just one break chance in the whole match, took the match home. Though the around 9000 tennis fans hoped for a come-back by the German up until the end, Tomic celebrated his first ever victory in Halle/Westphalia after 67 minutes and therefore has got his ticket for the Round of 16. Here he will meet the Frenchman Richard Gasquet.
With this another chapter in his successful tennis career has ended for Tommy Haas. His overall 39th match at the GERRY WEBER OPEN was also his last performance in Halle/Westphalia. Still on the court, he was awarded the new "Exellence Award", recognizing his commitment to the tournament by director Ralf Weber, before leaving the court where he has celebrated so many victories with his daughter Valentina in his arms and standing ovations from the audience.
Bye-bye Tommy, your place in the history of the GERRY WEBER OPEN is certain!
