Veteran Haas crashes out to qualifier in Munich semis

Title-holder Tommy Haas crashed out of the Munich ATP tournamentsemi-finals on Saturday as the 36-year-old suffered a 6-3, 6-2 defeat to Slovakianqualifier Martin Klizan.Germany's Haas, the defending Munich champion and former world number two,had few answers as he lost to Klizan in just over an hour, labouring in near-freezingtemperatures and missed the chance to reach the Munich final for the third time."That was a bitter day for me. I don't know if that was my last time in Munich,"admitted Haas, who hopes to compete in the ATP Madrid tournament next week.In Sunday's final, the 24-year-old Klizan, ranked 111 in the world, will face top seedFabio Fognini after the Italian's 6-3, 6-1 win over Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff inthe other semi-final.Fognini, ranked 13th in the world, is chasing his third straight tournament win inGermany after the clay-court specialist won both the Hamburg and Stuttgart ATPtitles last year."It was a difficult match, but I am happy because I am in the final on my debuthere," said Fognini."It'll be tough, I know Martin, he plays well and although I have beaten him the pastfew times, I will have to be careful as a final is a special match."Klizan has reached his second ATP final after losing in Barranquilla, Colombia at theend of March."Conditions were very tough today, but it was the same for both of us," said Klizanafter beating Haas."I think I am playing very good tennis now, it will be a very tough match in the final,but I will try to play good tennis and enjoy it." Source: AFP