Tommy Haas hands Roger Federer shocking defeat in Stuttgart Open

Roger Federer was handed a shocking defeat at the hands of 39-year-old Tommy Haas at the Stuttgart grass-court tournament on Thursday. The Swiss succumbed to defeat in his first match after being out of action for almost three months.

Haas, a former world number two but now down at 302, won 2-6, 7-6 (10/8), 6-4 for just his fourth victory in 17 meetings against his close friend. Federer, building up for an assault on an eighth Wimbledon title, hadn't played since March and skipped the entire clay court season.

It was just the second defeat of 2017 for 35-year-old Federer, who claimed the Australian Open for his 18th major in January.

"It's always special to play a close friend like Roger on grass, always lots of emotion," said Haas. "I saved a match point in the second set so was able to play more freely after that. "I even shocked myself."