STUTTGART, Germany (AP) — Kabiguan ang sumalubong sa pagbabalik aksiyon ni Grand Slam champion Roger Federer nang biguin ni German veteran Tommy Haas, 2-6, 7-6 (8), 6-4, sa second round ng Stuttgart Open nitong Miyerkules (Huwebes sa Manila).
Naisalba ng 39-anyos na si Haas ang siyam sa 12 break points at naiskor ang dalawa sa tatlong pagkakataon para gapiin ang Swiss star na dalawang buwang namahinga.
“I’ve even shocked myself a bit,” sambit ni Haas, ranked No. 302 at binigyan ng wild card sa grass-court tournament.
“I’m a bit speechless. It’s hard to find words.”
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Ito ang unang panalo ni Haas kay Federer mula noong 2012 final sa Halle. Sumabak si Federer sa unang pagkakataon mula nang magwagi sa Miami Open nitong Abril.
“If you don’t take your chances like I didn’t, leading a set and a break, you really only have yourself to blame at the end,” pahayag ni Federer. “You’ve got to acknowledge the fact that he was a bit better. It’s quite frustrating, but that’s the way it goes sometimes.”
Nasilat naman ni Philipp Kohlschreiber si No.5 seed Steve Johnson ng United States 7-6 (3), 5-7, 7-6 (6), habang ginapi ni sixth-seeded Mischa Zverev ng Germany si qualifier Yannick Hanfmann 7-6 (1), 6-2 para makausad sa quarterfinals kontra kay Haas.
