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Tommy Haas showed age is no barrier to him playing brilliant tennis in claiming the Munich Masters 250 title on Sunday.
The 35-year-old veteran took the title after defeating fellow German and defending champion Philip Kohlschreiber 6-3 7-6 in stunning spring sunshine in the Bavarian capital.
Haas, seeded third, made his way to the final with wins over Kohlschreiber, who mounted a gutsy comeback at 4-2 down in the third set against fellow German Daniel Brands to take the match in a tiebreak and earn a shot at defending his crown.
That comeback may have weighed on Haas’ mind in the final as he was he led 5-3 second set and was then broken when serving for the title at 5-4.
Steely resolve and stoic self-belief saw Haas play an almost flawless tiebreak, taking the set and championship 7 points to 2. It was Haas’ first win in Munich in nine attempts.
Haas, who has twice endured potential career threatening injuries, spending over a year out of the game, has clawed his way back to be ranked 14 on the back of some stunning results in 2012.
He enjoyed one of the best wins of his career in 2012 by defeating the legendary Roger Federer in the final on the grass of Halle, two weeks before Federer stunned the tennis world by taking a record-equaling seventh Wimbledon crown.
Haas has stated that, like Federer, he wishes to continue playing long enough so that his daughter can remember him playing at the highest level.
Haas may only need to look to legendary former Jamaican sprinter Merlene Ottey for inspiration.
Ottey set her personal best for the 100 metres at age 36. So for Haas, his best may be yet to come.
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