THE OLDEST swinger left in the draw showed that this game isn’t all about teenagers and 20-year-olds. Tommy Haas, German and proudly 31 years and two months old, may have been almost a decade older that 22-year-old Novak Djokovic but it’s the veteran and 24th seed who faces Roger Federer in the semi-final.
Djokovic, who has been complaining for nine days that grass is his least favourite surface, finally went out and proved it as people began to question the veracity of his occasionally confused declarations in post-match press conferences.
But even with the Serb’s doleful wittering about the surface, few expected him to fall to Haas, who had saved two match points in the third round and had never before been past the round of 16.
The serve and volleying Haas won a tight first two sets, 7-5, 7-6 before Djokovic came into the match by taking the third 6-4. That was seen as a blessed sign of revival for the talented fourth seed. But Haas was undeterred and didn’t waver, taking the fourth set 6-3.
He was subsequently asked if he was surprised by the result given what had happened in Queen’s.
“I didn’t play in Queen’s, (I played) in Halle. No problem, I understand,” said the winner.
From here on people will take more interest in Haas’s career. But it’s a refreshing turn of events in a sport that refers to a 28-year-old player such as Australian Lleyton Hewitt as a veteran. In women’s tennis . . . don’t go there.
Hewitt, the ‘veteran’ departed after a typically grandstand, screaming, swearing, hard-running, red-faced, fist-pumping, five-set dog-fight with the last American standing, Andy Roddick. Roddick has the pleasure of facing Andy Murray tomorrow.
His big serving game and rank took him into this match as favourite after Hewitt had made an unexpected run following a four month lay-off at the end of last year after a hip operation.
But the shake of Roddick’s head on Court One after he finally won the match in dying light, 6-3, 6-7 (10-12), 7-6 (7-1), 4-6, 6-4 told a story of toil and effort, which was no less than he expected from the former champion here.
Hewitt won the Wimbledon title in 2002, while Roddick has been to finals in 2004 and 2005 but was beaten in both as Roger Federer was making in five-in-a-row run.
“I haven’t really been in the Grand Slam picture in the last two years so I’m really thrilled now,” said Roddick. “There’s a lot of respect there. We used to go at it a little bit when we were younger but I think we’ve earned each other’s respect. Now were just a couple of old married dudes. Maybe we’ve grown up a bit.”
Roger Federer continued his roll towards that record 15th title. The Swiss player faced a test of patience as much as tennis when he beat Ivo Karlovic in three sets to reach his 21st consecutive Grand Slam semi-final. It was a dull, if intense match of few rallies.
Karlovic’s first blow in his first service game on a sweltering Centre Court match was a 126 mph ace followed by three unreturnable first serves in which Federer touched the ball three times.
That first game was a microcosm of the match in which the de facto top seed broke Karlovic’s serve twice and won a third set tiebreak to secure his place against Haas. Federer was the only player to break the Croatian’s serve in this championship.
“It’s not fair to call him boring,” said Federer. “He’s got a phenomenal serve. The way he backs it up with volleys. I think it’s exciting to go see him play. I’m relieved I’m through.” All he has to think about now is winning more Grand Slams than any player in history and the birth of his first child. No pressure.
