Seven Things To Know About Haas' Win Against Federer

It’s not often that a 39 year old beats the World No. 5, but that’s precisely what happened when former World No. 2 Tommy Haas upset Roger Federer 2-6, 7-6(8), 6-4 on Wednesday during the second round of the Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart.

The win, Haas’ fourth over the all-time great in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series, also marks the German’s second victory against Federer on grass in as many matches. Haas also beat Federer in the 2012 Gerry Weber Open final.

Want to know more? Here are seven more things to know about the unexpected result, which Haas called, “obviously one of my career highlights.”

1. Haas is the third player to beat Federer twice on grass, joining Novak Djokovic and Lleyton Hewitt. Haas beat Federer in the 2012 Gerry Weber Open final.

2. Haas is the oldest player to beat a Top 5 opponent since Jimmy Connors, 39 years and 5 months, defeated No. 3 Michael Stich in the second round of the 1992 Memphis Open.

3. Federer has held match point in both of his losses in 2017, falling to No. 116 Evgeny Donskoy at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and No. 302 Tommy Haas at the Mercedes Cup.

4. Federer falls to 15-2 lifetime against players outside the Top 300 and suffers first opening-match loss on grass since 2002 Wimbledon vs. Mario Ancic.

5. No. 302 Haas is lowest-ranked player to beat Federer since No. 407 Bjorn Phau at the 1999 Citi Open and oldest quarter-finalist since Jimmy Connors, 42, at 1995 Halle.

6. The second-round match between 39-year-old Haas and 35-year-old Federer was the oldest ATP World Tour match since 1982 Vina del Mar, when Ricardo Cano, 30, beat Luis Ayala, 49.

7. Next, Haas will try to become the oldest player to reach an ATP World Tour semi-final since Connors, 40, in 1993 in San Francisco (ret. vs. Gilbert).