Tommy Haas has joined an increasing group of players over the age of 30 who travel with young children. In the 35-year-old German’s case, he likes it very much. Haas, who is engaged to the US actress Sara Foster, has a two-year and three-month- old daughter Valentina.
She attended his matches at the SAP Open in San Jose and at times could be heard calling out to her dad while he was playing.
“I know she probably won’t remember watching me play today, but maybe I can continue on playing and she’ll get to be around a couple of these tournaments and see me play competitively at a high level,” Haas said. “Now is the time when she sort of puts things together. She knows how to cheer me on in some ways. It’s fun to have her around.”
Like many toddlers, Valentina can be a little distracting, but given that he reached the final, not too distracting.
“It can a little bit [distracting],” he said “You see her out there and she is smiling and waving at you. You kind of want to go over there for a second. But you have to try stay focused and do your thing.”
The 22nd ranked Haas travels full time with his physio Carlos Costa (who is no relation to the ex-player who is Rafa Nadal’s agent). At the tennis old age of 35, he must emphasize recovery. When he returned from hip and elbow surgery in 2010, he had a hard time keeping up with young players at less than 100%.
“It takes a lot of work, that’s for sure. That’s one thing I definitely won’t miss when I stop playing competitively,” he said. “My warm-up sessions are much longer before I even go on the court. I have to maintain my body at a high level. A lot comes with it. As you get older and wiser, you feel like you know what you have to do.”
©Daily Tennis News Wire
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