Tommy Haas had an impressive tennis career, claiming 15 tour-level titles and achieving a highest ranking of world number two.
The German athlete turned professional in 1996 and participated in the ATP Tour for over two decades, concluding his career in 2018.
Haas particularly excelled at the Australian Open, making it to the semi-finals three times in Melbourne.
Throughout his extensive career, which spanned three decades, Haas faced off against the top players in men’s tennis.
Haas Believes Pete Sampras is the ‘Greatest Server of All Time’
In a recent appearance on the Tennis Channel, Haas reflected on his career and discussed 14-time Grand Slam winner Pete Sampras.
“I remember competing against Pete when he was at his peak. Breaking his serve felt almost impossible,” Haas recounted. “In my opinion, he remains the ultimate server, both on first and second serves. His delivery, placement, and speed were exceptional, especially since he also employed serve-and-volley tactics, making it hard to find any rhythm against him.”
Does Haas Think Nadal’s French Open Record Can Be Surpassed?
Haas also faced the ‘big three’: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer, and shared his thoughts on competing against them.
“I never played Rafa [Nadal] on clay, which I now see as a blessing, as it would have been more about survival,” he remarked. “What he achieved at Roland Garros is unprecedented; 14 French Open titles are truly extraordinary. We probably won’t witness anything like that again.”
“Roger [Federer], when he was at his best, would instantly remind you of all the ground you needed to cover; you never knew what to expect,” he added. “With [Novak] Djokovic at his peak, finding a way to get the ball past him was nearly impossible; he was remarkable.”
Haas faced off against the ‘big three’ 31 times and found varying levels of success, enjoying wins against Federer and Djokovic in two of his Halle titles.
