Veteran Haas downs Haase for second Vienna title

Germany's Tommy Haas poses with his trophy after winning his game against Netherland's Robin Haase during their final match as part of the Vienna ATP 250 tennis tournament held in Vienna. (AFP/ALEXANDER KLEIN)

VIENNA: Tommy Haas won his second Austrian Open title on Sunday, a dozen years after claiming his first, with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 defeat of Robin Haase.

Victory over the Dutchman took two and a quarter hours and denied Haase his third trophy in Austria after twice winning on clay at Kitzbuehel.

Haas first won in Vienna in 2001 having lost the final the year before to Tim Henman.

"It was really tough, I had to play well," said the 35-year-old German.

"I played the big points well in the important moments."

Haas, who also won Munich on clay in the spring, stayed in the race for one of the four spots remaining in the eight-man World Tour Finals starting in a fortnight in London.

He currently stands provisional 12th.

"I still have a small chance, but I have to play extremely well," Haas said of the slim possibility of earning a place in the season wrap-up for the first time.

He will try to push his case over the final two weeks of the regular season in Valencia next week followed by the Paris Masters.

"It may mean that I have to win Paris," he said.

"I have to give my best tennis, nothing is impossible. I want to play good tennis for the rest of the season."

Haas, with 15 career titles from his 27 finals, hit back after going down an early break in the first set against Haase, with the German winning six of the next seven games to claim the set and begin the second with a break of serve.

Haase broke back and eventually squared the final at one set each on a lob winner.

In the deciding set, Haas broke for 5-4 and took victory a game later on his opponent's long forehand.