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Haas happy just to finish match on grand slam return
Germany's Tommy Haas lost on his grand slam return on Monday after 14 months out injured but was just happy to finish his match against unheralded Turk Marsel Ilhan in the French Open first round.
Germany's Tommy Haas lost on his grand slam return on Monday after 14 months out injured but was just happy to finish his match against unheralded Turk Marsel Ilhan in the French Open first round.
The 33-year-old Haas, a former world number two who played in four grand slam semi-finals, made his comeback from hip and knee problems last month in a doubles events at the Munich Open but needs more match practice to try to rediscover his game.
"First of all, it's great to be sort of back in some way," he told reporters after being beaten 6-4 4-6 7-6 6-4.
"Overall I'm happy to be able to finish the match. It wasn't ideal for me to start at the French."
The idea of quitting if his body cannot cope is already entering his head.
"I'm just kind of right there where I'm not sure where the body will be. All I try to do is to get it back to a place where I feel really comfortable for a few hours playing a match," he said.
"And if that's possible, then I'll continue to play if I still have some success. And if I know it's next month or the end of the year that that's not the case, then I know where I am at and I can make a decision if I continue to play."
