After back-to-back Miami Open titles in 2011 and 2012, Novak Djokovic experienced an early loss in 2013. The Serb fell to Tommy Haas 6-2, 6-4 in an hour and 20 minutes in the third round, as nothing worked for him during the evening session. Haas played at a high level and delivered his third victory over Djokovic in seven encounters, beating the world’s best player at almost 35. Novak hit seven winners and 30 unforced errors. On the other hand, Tommy dropped 11 points in nine service games and lost serve once from the only chance offered to Novak. The German grabbed 47% of the return points and turned them into four breaks from nine opportunities, enough to move over the top. Haas played better in chilly and windy conditions and defeated world no. 1 for the first time since the 1999 Grand Slam Cup when he ousted Andre Agassi! Novak held at 30 in the encounter’s first game after Tommy’s loose forehand.
The German grabbed the second game at love after a service winner before the Serb responded with the same stroke in the next one for 2-1. Pushing strong behind the initial shot, Haas held at love in game four and clinched four straight points in the next one to earn a break. Novak netted a forehand to fall 3-2 behind after only 15 minutes, and Tommy cemented the lead with a service winner in game six. Using a block return and defending his backhand nicely, Haas earned a break chance in game seven with a cracking forehand down the line winner. He converted it to extend the lead and serve for the set. Tommy fired a service winner at 5-2 to seal the opener in 28 minutes and gain a massive boost ahead of set number two. The Serb sprayed a backhand error to face break points at the beginning of the second set. The German converted the first after the rival’s double fault to open a set and a break advantage. Haas held at love in game two and earned a break point in the next one after Djokovic’s loose forehand.
The veteran Tommy Haas stunned Novak Djokovic in Miami 2013.
Tommy squandered it but created the second after a well-constructed attack. Djokovic erased it with a forced error before facing the third break chance. The Serb denied it with a service winner and held with another after over 11 minutes. Leaving those chances behind him, Haas held at love to open a 3-1 gap and move closer to the finish line. He created another break point in game five, and Novak saved it with a booming serve. World no. 1 grabbed the game with a volley winner at the net after a 19-stroke exchange to remain within one break deficit. Tommy finally lost the ground on serve and netted a forehand to experience three break points in game six. His forehand landed long on the first, and Novak broke back to lock the result at 3-3 and improve his chances. The Serb played his best tennis in those moments and held at love in game seven with an unreturned serve for a 4-3 advantage.
Djokovic won three straight games and gathered a boost ahead of the closing stages. With no room for errors, the German held at 30 in game eight to remain on the positive side, hoping for more chances on the return. Tommy extended the ninth game with a forehand winner and earned a break chance after a 25-stroke exchange. Haas missed it after netting a forehand, and Djokovic wasted a game point. The Serb placed a loose forehand to offer his rival the second break chance. The German seized it with a well-constructed attack and a volley winner at the net that pushed him 5-4 ahead. The veteran served for the victory in game ten and created two match points with a backhand down the line winner. Novak saved the first with a volley winner, and Tommy clinched the second with a forehand down the line winner to celebrate a massive victory.
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