STUTTGART — Roger Federer suffered a shock defeat to 39-year-old Tommy Haas at the Stuttgart grass court tournament Wednesday in the Swiss great's first match after almost three months out of action.
Haas, a former world number two but now down at 302, won 2-6, 7-6 (10/8), 6-4 for just his fourth victory in 17 meetings against his close friend.
Federer, building up for an assault on an eighth Wimbledon title, hadn't played since March, skipping the entire clay court season.
It was just the second defeat of 2017 for the 35-year-old, who claimed the Australian Open for his 18th major in January.
"It's always special to play a close friend like Roger on grass, always lots of emotion," said Haas, who has undergone nine surgeries in his career to mend a number of ailments.
"I saved a match point in the second set so was able to play more freely after that. I even shocked myself."
With a combined age of 74, it was the oldest match on the tour since 1982 as Haas, on a farewell to the sport in 2017, made his first quarterfinal since Rome in 2014.
Federer also held match point in his only other defeat this year to Russia's Evgeny Donskoy in Dubai.
Haas is the oldest player to beat a top five opponent since Jimmy Connors, at 39 years and five months old, defeated Michael Stich in Memphis in 1992.
He is also the lowest-ranked player to beat Federer since No. 407 Bjorn Phau at Washington in 1999.
Federer, who fired 23 aces in the contest, had match point at 8-7 in the second set tie-breaker but hit a backhand long.
The German took his opportunity and converted his fourth set point when Federer double faulted for the first time in the match.
Haas controlled the decider, breaking for 3-1 before going on to take the victory on a second match point.
He will next face compatriot Mischa Zverev who beat qualifier and fellow German Yannick Hanfmann 7-6 (7/1), 6-2 in 83 minutes.
Philipp Kohlschreiber, the runner-up last year, advanced by beating Steve Johnson of the United States 7-6 (7/3), 5-7, 7-6 (10/8) in two hours and 39 minutes.
The 33-year-old Kohlschreiber, who lost to Austria's Dominic Thiem in the 2016 final, has won five of his seven career titles in Germany.
Nadal out of Queen's
Rafael Nadal confirmed Tuesday he has pulled out of next week's Aegon Championships at Queen's in order to rest and prepare for Wimbledon.
The 31-year-old Spaniard has had a hugely successful clay season, claiming a record 10th French Open crown on Sunday to earn a 15th Grand Slam title.
"I am very sorry to say that I am not going to be able play Queen's next week," the world No. 2 said on his Facebook page.
The Queen's tournament will be headlined by world No. 1 and defending champion Andy Murray, with US Open champion Stan Wawrinka, runner-up to Nadal in Paris, also competing as the second seed.
Goffin out of Wimbledon
Goffin David Goffin says he won't play at Wimbledon as he continues to recover from an ankle injury that knocked him out of the French Open.
Goffin, ranked 13th in the world, says on Twitter that his recovery is going well and that "doctors are positive, but I won't have time to be ready for the tournament. I want to be 100 percent."
Goffin tripped on a tarp while chasing a ball behind the baseline during his French Open third-round match with Horacio Zeballos. His right foot got stuck under the tarp, which is used to protect the clay court overnight or in case of heavy rain. The injury prevented him from finishing the match.
Pliskova to miss Birmingham
World No. 3 Karolina Pliskova, a semi-finalist at Roland Garros, said on Wednesday she will miss the WTA Wimbledon warm-up event in Birmingham due to an elbow injury.
Pliskova will however take part in the June 25-July 1 Eastbourne tournament where she reached the final last year. — Agencies
