Maria Sharapova Doesn't Think She Can Afford Tommy Haas Anymore

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Maria Sharapova Doesn't Think She Can Afford Tommy Haas Anymore

By Chris Oddo

(March 28, 2013) -- One drawback of Tommy Haas's recent run of success on the ATP tour is that Maria Sharapova probably can't afford him as a hitting partner anymore.

The Russian, who reached a fifth career Miami final today with a 6-2, 6-1 blitzing of Jelena Jankovic, used to hit with Haas at IMG in Bradenton and in California, back when the German was rehabbing from hip surgery and other ailments.

Read: Red Hot Haas Ices Djokovic in Miami

“Yeah, I'm really happy for him,” Sharapova told reporters on Thursday. “I mean, I have kind of--I have seen, you know, his comeback in the last couple of years. I practiced with him a lot when we were both in Florida and California. We spent like a couple of weeks training in Bradenton in December together. You know, he used to work with my coach.

“So we know each other quite well. It's incredible. I saw him a year and a half ago, as I was saying on the court, just, you know, coming back from the knee injury and then the hip. He was just, you know, sluggish. He wasn't confident, he wasn't moving well, he didn't have a team at all in place.”

Haas, who spent nearly two years outside the ATP's top 100 after undergoing hip and elbow surgeries in a two-month span in 2010, became the oldest player in nearly 40 years to defeat a reigning World No. 1 when he took out Novak Djokovic in straight sets in the round of 16 in Miami. The German will crack the top 15 for the first time since 2008 when rankings are released on Monday.

Read: Sharapova Reaches 5th Miami Final

“It's just so nice to see someone that's at that point in his career that's been there, that's played great tennis in his life, I think, been No. 2 in the world or something like that, to still want it as much as he does,” said Sharapova.

“It's just really nice to see. He was a pretty good hitting partner for me, as well. Now he might be a little bit expensive. I don't know. (Laughter.) I have to ask him about that.”

(Photo Credit: Clive Brunskill/ Getty)