Wise-old Tommy Haas stuns Novak Djokovic as he breaks 30-year record

 
Reuters
Marco Giacomelli27 March 2013

Tommy Haas pulled off one of the biggest shocks of the tennis year so far as he beat Novak Djokovic 6-2, 6-4 at the Miami Masters to become the oldest man to knock out a world No1 for 30 years.

The German, who turns 35 next Wednesday, needed just 80 minutes to end Djokovic’s 14-match winning streak at the tournament and consign the Serb to just his second loss of the season.

This was only Haas’s second victory over a world No1 but his previous triumph came 14 years ago when he beat Andre Agassi in the quarter-finals of the Grand Slam Cup.

With fans courtside standing and screaming through much of the cold and blustery fourth-round match, a fired-up Haas pumped both arms skyward after hitting a forehand winner down the line.

“This is crazy,” said the world No18, who is the oldest player in the top 50. “It’s one of those tournaments where everything seemed to click.

“He’s the best player in the last two years and it’s unbelievable I won. I don’t know how I did it.

“Playing against someone like Novak and coming out on top at this time of my career is amazing. These are the moments I appreciate the most, going on those big stadiums, big stages, playing against the best people in the world.”

The victory is part of an impressive turnaround for Haas, who a year ago was down at No145 in the rankings after a series of injuries including hip, shoulder and knee problems.

Given his age, it would have been easy for him to quit but Haas fought on.

“Somewhere in the middle of last year, sometime in April, May, my body sort of adjusted a lot, got better, and I could train,” said Haas, who was world No2 in 2002. “If you can’t train and put in the hard yards in this sport any more you’ll not get far. I know that, and luckily I’m a guy that likes to work out and gets in the best shape that I can possibly can, my body allowing.”

Haas will play world No13 Gilles Simon in the quarter-finals tonight after the Frenchman rallied past another Serbian in Janko Tipsarevic, 5-7, 6-2, 6-2.

Djokovic, meanwhile, had no excuses for his defeat, his earliest at an outdoor hard-court tournament since losing to Olivier Rochus in the first round of Miami in 2010.

“He played a great match and he was the better player, no question about it,” said the six-time Grand Slam champion, who won a third successive Australian Open title in January. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s definitely the worst match I have played in a long time.

“There are days where you just don’t feel good on the court. Nothing really goes your way. This is one of those days. But all the credit to him for, you know, making me play this bad.”

Djokovic’s defeat opens the door for second seed Andy Murray to replace Roger Federer as world No2 should he win the Miami title.

The British No1 eased into the last eight with a 6-2 6-4 win over Italy’s Andreas Seppi and will take on ninth seed Marin Cilic tomorrow with the Croat having edged out Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-5, 7-6.

In the women’s tournament, there was more joy for a thirty-something as Serena Williams continued her bid for a sixth Maimi title with a hard-fought 6-3, 7-6 victory over Li Na.

The American shook off six double-faults and rallied back from 5-2 down in the second set to reach the last four.

“I realised I was down and it was just one point at a time after that,” said the 31-year-old world No1. “The tie-break was good, it just came down to one point at the end.”

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