Tommy Haas outlasts Ivan Dodig to enter quarters – Power Horse Cup 2013
Former world number two, Tommy Haas, made an epic comeback from a set down to overpower the Croatian challenger, Ivan Dodig, in a three-set thriller at the Power Horse Cup 2013 on Wednesday. He nudged up a 3-6,
6-4, 7-5 victory against the Croat to power into the final eight at this ATP World Tour 250 series event taking place in Dusseldorf, Germany.
The German veteran stated in a courtside interview after pocketing the match, "It was a tough battle. I was close to losing, down 4-5, 15/30 in the third set. Ivan played a terrific match. It was tough conditions,
with rain in between. It wasn’t the best for my old bones. Jarkko is a very experienced player and it will be good to get revenge tomorrow."
Dodig made a strong entry at this match and after capitalising on two break chances, he jumped to a 5-2 lead. He lost his serve in the next game but broke again, sealing the opener with a 6-3 win.
Currently ranked 14th in the Emirates Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Haas re-structured his game in the following set. He got the coveted break in the third game and jumped to a 3-1
lead. Regardless of losing his serve in the eighth game, the German broke again, eventually grabbing the equaliser by winning six games to four.
The 35-year-old carried his rhythm in the deciding set. He got the only break of the set in the second last game and clinched the decider with a 7-5 score line.
Next in queue for Haas is the sixth seeded Fin, Jarkko Nieminen, who rallied past Roberto Bautista Agut in two hours and 33 minutes to set up this epic encounter. The Finn recorded a 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 score line
against Bautista Agut. The German star currently has a 3-1 lead against Nieminen at the FedEx ATP Head 2 Head series. Haas is eyeing to avenge his Australian Open first round exit against the Finn.
The third seed, Juan Monaco from Argentina, will accompany Haas in the last eight. He eased past Andre Ghem in straight sets to progress.
“It is always nice to play at a place where you have good memories,” Monaco reflected. “I played really well today. I knew from the beginning that the weather was not great. I now play Tobias Kamke, a good player
who will have the support of the crowd.”
The Argentine will square off against the local challenger Kamke in quarter-finals.
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