The scene looks eerily familiar for Tommy Haas.
Just like last year, he is entering the Mercedes-Benz Cup having
come off an injury. Just like last year, he is hoping to use the
tournament to propel him back into the upper echelon of the ATP
world rankings.
Such is the status of the defending champion.
After capturing last year’s title with a 7-6 (6), 6-4
victory over fellow German Nicolas Kiefer, Haas has found himself
in a more comfortable position, winning several matches in various
U.S. Open Series tournaments and advancing to the quarterfinals not
only in Cincinnati, but in the U.S. Open as well.
A strong finish to last year’s season landed Haas among
the top 20 on the ATP tour ““ a surprise even to Haas
himself.
“I basically jumped from no ranking to No. 17,” Haas
said. “If anybody would have told me that, I would have
probably laughed in his face.”
This year’s Mercedes-Benz Cup will be the first time Haas
has played since a disappointing loss at Wimbledon four weeks ago.
Haas was forced to retire in the second set after dropping the
first set 2-6 and trailing 1-2 in the second set due to an injury
he had suffered just minutes prior to the match during
warm-ups.
While practicing serves, a ball rolled close to Haas’
right foot, unnoticed. After completing his service motion, the
German felt a sharp pain.
“I landed on the ball in such a way that I twisted my
ankle and tore a ligament and the swelling was quite big right
after, so I knew there was no chance for me to finish the
match,” said Haas.
But the defending Mercedes-Benz Cup champion continued to play
through the excruciating pain, attempting to adjust to the
injury.
“I kept trying to see if I could maybe play and see what
happens, but there was no chance,” said Haas. “It was
something that was very unlucky and something that I do not think
would ever happen again.”
Last year, Haas found himself in an almost identical
predicament.
Before coming to Westwood to compete in his third Mercedes-Benz
Cup, Haas had been sidelined for more than a year with an injured
shoulder.
But by the time the tournament rolled around, Haas was ready to
play and slowly made his way out of the shadows and into the
spotlight.
En route to his seventh ATP tournament victory, the 2000 Olympic
silver medalist defeated Andre Agassi in the quarterfinals ““
a feat Haas considers one of the better matches of his career.
“Anytime you beat someone like Andre in a tournament and
end up winning the tournament, it’s really something
special,” said Haas.
The defending champion’s run last year at the Los Angeles
Tennis Center jump-started his season. He went on to make great
strides in the tournaments that followed the 2004 Mercedes-Benz
Cup.
This year, Haas seeks to replicate the results of last year not
only in the Mercedes-Benz Cup, but in all the hard court events
that make up the U.S. Open Series.
The injury-prone Haas has yet to accomplish back-to-back
championship runs at the same tournament, but hopes to change that
in the upcoming days with a second consecutive title at the
Mercedes-Benz Cup.
“You usually feel well when you have won a tournament at
that certain place before and you try to come back and repeat
that.
“For me, it is something I have not accomplished yet, but
I would definitely like to,” he said.
Although many top players have withdrawn from the tournament for
many reasons, including injuries, Haas faces the challenge of
potentially having a match against Agassi in the semifinals.
Haas’ doctor said the player’s injured ligament
would take six weeks to heal completely. After resting his ankle
for four weeks, Haas hopes to have the same strong finish to this
year that he accomplished almost exactly one year ago.
“I am trying to come back and have a good (hard court
season) again like last year, and maybe even better if I
can,” Haas said.