Tommy Haas stunned top
seed Andy Roddick in straight sets, 6-3 6-4, to win his first title in more than
two years at the US Men's Clay Court Championship in Houston.
Haas, playing only his fifth tournament after missing all of last year with a
shoulder injury, last lifted a title at Stuttgart in October 2001.
He reached a career-high second in the ATP rankings the next year before
struggling with arm problems.
The 26-year-old German had defeated Roddick in three prior meetings, all
coming before his health problems - and prior to Roddick's emergence as one of
the top players in tennis.
Picking up where he left off, Haas has won eight consecutive sets from Roddick
and has yet to drop a set on clay against the American.
Failing in a bid for his third title of the year, the 21-year-old American had
his overall winning streak stopped at 12.
He won the NASDAQ-100 Open in Miami two weeks ago and two Davis Cup matches
last weekend.