Halle, Germany (Sports Network) - Germany's Tommy Haas thrilled the partisan crowd Sunday with an upset of Serbia's Novak Djokovic to capture the title at the Gerry Weber Open.
Haas, a Hamburg native who was given a wild card entry into the event, notched a 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 6-1 victory for his first title of 2009 and the 12th of his career. The 31-year-old veteran, who now resides in Florida, had never won a grass-court tournament before Sunday and has now won titles on all surfaces (hardcourt, clay and grass).
Sunday's triumph marked the first title for Haas since capturing the Memphis crown in February 2007. Haas reached a pair of quarterfinals earlier this year, losing to Andy Roddick in San Jose and falling to Bjorn Phau in Houston.
"It's such an incredibly nice feeling to hold up the trophy again and to be in Germany as well, in front of German fans is even more special," said Haas. "I've won on every surface at least once, which is a great accomplishment for myself. It's a great day."
Haas also improved to 12-9 lifetime in ATP Tour finals and has now won his last seven title matches. His last loss in a final came back in 2002 at the Italian Masters.
Djokovic, meanwhile, fell to 2-4 in finals this year. He won titles in Dubai and Belgrade, while losing in the finals at Miami, Monte Carlo and Rome.
After a stunning third-round loss to Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber at the French Open, Djokovic won his first four matches at this event, dropping just one set on his way to the final. He did have to save five match points in a second-round victory over Florent Serra.
Haas took the first set Sunday by winning the final three games, but the second-seeded Djokovic bounced back and forced a third by winning a tiebreaker in the second set. Haas double-faulted three times during the tiebreak.
From there it was all Haas. He broke serve on the way to a 3-0 lead in the third and broke again for a 5-1 cushion, then served it out at love to beat Djokovic for the first time in three all-time meetings.
"It was all about just focusing on the match and trying to beat a terrific player, to beat Novak which never happened before for me," Haas added. "I respect his game a lot and I respect him as a person. So to beat him in the final is even more special, especially with what he's accomplished in such young years it's great. So, it's perfect."
The two had met earlier this year in the third round at Indian Wells, a 6-2, 7-6 (7-1) victory for Djokovic, who was also a straight-set winner in the lone previous matchup at the 2006 French Open.
Haas entered this tournament after pushing eventual French Open champ Roger Federer to five sets in the fourth round at Roland Garros. He won the first two sets of that match, only to watch the Swiss superstar rally for the thrilling victory that propelled him to his first title on the famed red clay in Paris.
Next up for Haas is Wimbledon, where he has struggled in the past. He was a third-round loser to Andy Murray last year and his deepest run in the London suburb was a fourth-round appearance in 2007, when he was forced to withdraw from a scheduled match against Federer because of a torn stomach muscle suffered in the previous round.
Djokovic, meanwhile, lost a grass court final for the second straight year. He finished as the runner-up at the Queen's Club last year, losing to Rafael Nadal.
"The week was great," Djokovic stated about his preparation for Wimbledon. "I think I had enough matches prior to Wimbledon, which is a positive thing I'm taking out of this tournament."
Sunday's victory for Haas was worth $160,000.