Federer loses comeback match

STUTTGART: Roger Federer slumped to a shock 2-6 7-6 6-4 loss to German veteran Tommy Haas at the Stuttgart Open yesterday in a disappointing comeback after the 18-time Grand Slam champion missed the entire claycourt season.

Federer, who opted to take time off in order to prepare for an assault on an eighth Wimbledon crown, made a sensational start to the year by winning the Australian Open and subsequent titles at Indian Wells and Miami.

Despite a superb first set on grass, the 35-yearold squandered a match point and lost his grip on the game in the oldest tour match, in terms of combined ages, since 1982 and suffered only his second loss of the season.