Novak Djokovic, Tommy Haas reach Halle final

Tommy Haas who once ranked no. 2 back in 2002 (currently no. 41), will be playing his first final since winning the 2007 Morgan Keegan Tennis Championshps in Memphis.

After a great run at the French Open, which he eventually lost to champion Roger Federer in the quarterfinals, Haas will have a chance to stop Novak Djokovic who is bidding to win his first grass court title.

Haas beat fellow compatriot Philipp Kohlschreiber 2-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (3) in an all-German semifinal at the Gerry Weber Open yesterday.

In another semifinals, Novak Djokovic defeated qualifier Olivier Rochus 7-6 (7), 6-4 at this Wimbledon tuneup.

“I had to work hard for my points, especially on his serve,” Djokovic said.

“He has a great touch; he rarely makes mistakes from the baseline. I served well and I tried to change the pace.”

This is Djokovic’s second final on grass, after Queen’s Club last year, which he lost to 2008 Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal.

Numbers wise, Djokovic has the advantage as he has beaten Haas twice in their last two matches.

The 31-year-old Haas has been slowed by injuries. He had his third shoulder operation in 2007.

Haas said the sunshine after wet, cloudy days created shadows on the court that bothered him at the start.

“I was really irritated,” he said. “I was thinking of too many things.”

(Via AP; Images by Philipp Guelland/AFP/Getty Images)

Who will fill Pistol Pete's tennis shoes?

I never believe Pete Sampras is actually a funny guy.

I grew up watching him play on TV. To me he was a boring and serious (but a great) tennis player.

He played against Tommy Haas in an exhibition match on Monday. And I'm sure you already know who was the winner.

Updated: Tommy's pictures specially for Mila :D


(Images via SAP Open website)

Boris Becker to marry 24-year-old girlfriend, Tommy Haas' ex-girlfriend that is

Former Wimbledon champion Boris Becker plans to marry his late manager’s daughter, who is 16 years younger than the German tennis icon, a newspaper reported Monday.

The couple got engaged Sunday “in the closest family circle,” according to the online edition of Bild, Germany’s mass-circulation newspaper.

Becker, 40, divorced Barbara Becker, with whom he has two children, seven years ago. He also has a daughter with London-based model Angela Ermakova.

Sandy Meyer-Woelden, 24, is the daughter of former Becker manager Axel Meyer-Woelden, who died in 1997. A jewelry designer, Meyer-Woelden dated German tennis star Tommy Haas for several years.

Perhaps Becker should advise Roger Federer to push everything negative aside and settle down like him too. When a top player like Federer is suffering the worst time of his career, the best thing to do is try to take a break and accomplish some other things in life (read: getting married to Mirka!)

(Via Telegraph, Yahoo! Sports)

Will be back next Monday

Younes El Aynaoui and Igor Andreev pose for photos at the BMW Open player part.

Tommy Haas plays an interactive golf computer game.

While the players at BMW Open are taking a break to attend the player party, I'll be taking a break from tomorrow onwards till Monday.

I'll be back again with more tennis updates in and off courts next week.

(Images from ATP)