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Local hero Haas takes home Stuttgart title with rout of Mirnyi
Updated: Sunday October 21, 2001 12:41 PM
STUTTGART, Germany (AP) -- Tommy Haas captured his second title in as many weeks when he beat Max Mirnyi 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 in Sunday's final of the $2.95 million Stuttgart Masters Series. After winning the tournament in Vienna, Austria, last week, Haas has now put together a 10-match winning streak and has four titles this year. "This was my nicest victory because I like playing in Germany," Haas said. "I really wanted to play well before a home crowd." Mirnyi, a 24-year-old qualifier from Belarus, was in his first final, after the biggest week of his singles career. He had upset top-ranked French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten, Wimbledon winner Goran Ivanisevic and former No. 1 Pete Sampras, after saving double match points against the first two. But he ran out of gas in the final. Mirnyi likes to charge to the net behind his big serve. Haas took advantage, especially on Mirnyi's second serve, to whip passing shot winners. The 15th-seeded German rolled through five straight games to win the first set and two more to start the second. Haas broke serve for a 3-2 lead in the third and was never threatened again. He put away an easy backhand winner on his first match point to become the first German to win the title in Stuttgart since Boris Becker in 1996. Ironically, lack of local sponsorship could end the tournament's stay in Stuttgart. Mirnyi finished with 27 unforced errors, while Haas had only eight in the match that lasted only one hour and 32 minutes. "I didn't have a problem, he was simply better today," Mirnyi said. Haas and Mirnyi are both products of Nick Bollettieri's tennis academy in Bradenton, Florida, and are good friends. Haas, has now won all four of their matches on the tour. The 23-year-old German earned $434,000 for his victory and moved up to No. 7 in the Champions Race, the season-long contest to decide the No. 1 in the world. He could also qualify for the next month's Masters Cup in Sydney, the season-ending tournament that brings together the top eight players in the world. Mirnyi picked up $228,000. Previously better known as a doubles player, Mirnyi won the U.S. Open doubles title last year with Lleyton Hewitt as partner. Haas captured his first Masters Series title. The nine tournaments are the biggest on the tour after the four Grand Slams.
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