MercedesCup in Stuttgart - Federer, Nadal, Haas make history
The MercedesCup in Stuttgart should have started today with the games in the main field. The corona pandemic only allows a look back at a few milestones in the recent past of the tournament.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Jun 08, 2020, 05:35 pm
The relationship between Stuttgart tournament director Edwin Weindorfer and Tommy Haas is a very special one. After all, the Styrian also represented the interests of the long-standing German number one as a manager. In 2017, however, two hearts must have lived in Weindorfer's chest - because Haas competed in the MercedesCup in the second round against Roger Federer . Local hero against legend, was delivered exactly what this match-up also promised: great tennis.
Federer served 23 aces, developed twelve break chances - and still went from the center court of TC Weissenhof as a loser. Haas won 2-6, 7-6 (6) and 6-4. Unsuspecting that it should remain the last match victory on the ATP tour. Haas lost in Stuttgart in the quarterfinals against Mischa Zverev, then in Halle against Bernard Tomic. In Wimbledon the round one came against Ruben Bemelmans, and in Bastad against Facundo Bagnis there was nothing to be won for Haas. Nicolas Kicker then turned out to be too strong in Hamburg, the last professional match played by Tommy Haas in summer 2017 in Kitzbühel against Jan-Lennard Struff .
Nadal wins for the third time in Stuttgart
A year later, Roger Federer was back in Stuttgart. And this time everything went in the direction of the Maestro. Not only did Federer secure the title in the final against Milos Raonic. With the move into the final after a close match against Nick Kyrgios , the Swiss had fixed his last return to number one in the ATP world rankings.
And Rafael Nadal also entered the MercedesCup list of winners on the pitch, right at the premiere in 2015. Nadal had already won the event twice before, in 2005 and 2007, when he last competed in Stuttgart, the Spaniard initially won against Marcos Bagdhatis and Bernard Tomic, had to put Gael Monfils in their place in the semifinals, and prevailed in the final against surprise man Viktor Troicki.