Haas crashes out to qualifier in Munich semis

Germany’s Tommy Haas returns the ball to Italian Andreas Seppi during the ATP tennis BMW Open quarter final match in Munich, southern Germany, on May 2, 2014. AFP PHOTO/CHRISTOF STACHE

BERLIN — Title-holder Tommy Haas crashed out of the Munich ATP tournament semi-finals on Saturday as the 36-year-old suffered a 6-3, 6-2 defeat to Slovakian qualifier Martin Klizan.

In Sunday’s final, the 24-year-old Klizan, ranked 111 in the world, will face either top seed Fabio Fognini of Italy or Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff, who meet in the other semi-final.

Haas, the defending champion and former world number two, had few answers, losing in just over an hour as he laboured in near-freezing temperatures and drizzle and missed the chance to reach the Munich final for the third time.

Having taken a six-week break before the Munich tournament after a shoulder injury, Haas was receiving daily treatment on his shoulder and hopes to compete in the ATP Madrid tournament next week.