Haas Reaches San Jose Final with Win over Isner

Tommy Haas became the oldest man to reach the Sap Open final since 1973 when he defeated John Isner in San Jose on Saturday.

By Chris Oddo

(February 16, 2013) -- 34-year-old Tommy Haas reached his 25th career final on Saturday when he defeated American John Isner 6-3, 6-4 in just over an hour. Haas’s second career victory in five encounters is also Haas’s second straight set win over the World No. 16.

All three of Isner’s victories over Haas have gone to three sets, and two have gone to third-set tiebreakers.

Haas didn’t need the benefit of any tiebreakers today, as he broke Isner in his very first serving game, thanks to a lot of missed first serves by Isner and a couple of forehand errors, too.

The break turned out to be more than enough for Haas, as he only dropped three points on serve in the set, and out-aced Isner 3-1.

Isner had a chance to move ahead in the second with Haas serving at 3-4, set but he nudged a backhand return into the net.

Haas would break through in the very next game as Isner netted a forehand, and even though the German double-faulted on his first match point in the ensuing game he would get over the hump soon thereafter, securing a place as the oldest man in the SAP Open final since Roy Emerson in 1973 and keeping alive his bid to become the first German to win the event in its 125-year existence.

Haas finished with 8 aces and won 33 of 38 first serve points, while Isner finished with 9 aces, winning just 21 of 30 of his first serve points.

Haas will face either Milos Raonic or Sam Querrey in the final. Raonic, the two-time defending San Jose champion, is the event’s top seed.

(Photo Credit: AP)