Tommy Haas Won His 500th Career Match

Written by: Staff on 19th October 2012

Tommy Haas Won His 500th Career Match

epa03374185 Tommy Haas of Germany hits a return to Ernests Gulbis of Latvia during their match on the third day of the 2012 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 29 August 2012. The US Open runs through Sunday 09 September 2012. EPA/JASON SZENES |

Tommy Haas has fulfilled his 2012 tennis dreams, completing his personal hat-trick by winning his 500th career match in Vienna. The German hammered American Jesse Levine 6-4, 6-2 to to insure his place in the record books 11 years after lifting the Vienna title.

The 34-year-old was presented with a retro Fiat 500 car on court by tournament organisers to celebrate his success after making a comeback after several seasons of injuries including hip surgery. .

“I had set for my comeback three goals,” said Haas, a one-time No. 2 who is now back in the top 20. “I wanted my 13th ATP title, I got that in Halle when I beat Roger Federer. I wanted to surpass $10 million in career prize money and I wanted my 500th victory.

“I’ve achieved all three, it shows I’ve have played well in recent months. This win makes me really proud and now I have a cool car to celebrate. It’s a great surprise from the tournament. I really like this car.

“I’m sure I will get some text messages from my family in Europe saying that the car is too small for the US and that I should leave it here with them since I haven’t been driving a car with a stick shift in a while.

“I feel really fit now and playing good tennis. This is something I can always look back on.” Haas joins an elite group of active players comprising Federer (871 wins), Rafael Nadal (583) and Lleyton Hewitt with 566.

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: American tennis news, German tennis news, Italian tennis news, Jesse Levine, Lleyton Hewitt, Roger Federer, Sports, Tommy Haas, Vienna tennis news