Haase meets Haas for title after Tsonga crashes

VIENNA: Robin Haase upset top seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-5, 7-6 (7/4) to earn a Sunday final at the Austrian Open against German veteran Tommy Haas.

Haas reached his third Vienna final as furious opponent Lukas Rosol cracked a racquet in half when facing six match points, drawing a point penalty which handed his German opponent a 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/0) win.

Tsonga, competing in a fourth event in the last five weeks, was playing with a heavy strapping on the left knee which kept him out of tennis for nearly three months over the summer.

Haase, the world number 63, owns two trophies at the famed Austrian alpine resort of Kitzbuhel but both were on clay.

Haas is the second seed and was champion at the Stadthalle 12 years ago and losing finalist in 2000 to Tim Henman. (AFP)