STUTTGART, June 9, 2017

Tommy Haas is getting ready for his last appearance at the MercedesCup held from 10 to 18 June 2017. Two days ahead of the start of the tournament, the 39-year-old German and 2015 finalist Viktor Troicki met the media at the zoological garden in Stuttgart. Haas will start his grass court campaign at the venue of the TC Weissenhof on Tuesday.

“I have good memories of all the German tournaments. This also applies for Stuttgart. I remember an emotional comeback in 2015, when I returned to the tour after being sidelined from the courts for more than one year,” Haas told about his second round victory over Mikhail Youzhny two years ago.

Tommy Haas and Viktor Troicki (photo: MercedesCup/Daniel Maurer)

Yet, Haas also had to face one of his most bitter defeats at the MercedesCup. In the 1999 final, the German led 2-0 in sets and 5-4, serving for the title before his opponent Magnus Norman from Sweden started an incredible comeback and eventually emerged victorious in five sets.

“It has been quite some time since then, but I remember this match pretty well. Magnus fully enjoyed the win and took his new Mercedes-Benz with him right to the next tournament on the tour. It was a really painful defeat but of course it’s now behind me.”

Haas has shown some decent results in recent times by reaching the second round at the ATP Masters 1000 events in Monte-Carlo as well as in Rome.

“It would be great to win the one or the other match in Stuttgart, as I really like the atmosphere at the venue,” the former World No. 2 told. Haas’ good friend Roger Federer keeps his fingers crossed that the German will go as deep as possible in the week.

“A final between Tommy and me. Wouldn’t that be great?” Federer asked with a smile during a PR meeting with the Swiss maestro at his hometown Lenzerheide in the middle of April.

Main draw ceremony is going to take place on Saturday. Federer will arrive in Stuttgart on Sunday and will have a first practice session with Haas on Centre Court at 1:30pm.