A Best-Ranked Player for One Country Has Decided to Represent Another
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Version 0 of 1. When Tommy Haas, a 35-year-old from Germany, was told in August that no American man was in the top 20 for the first time since the ATP rankings began 40 years ago, he begged to differ. “Not true,” said Haas, who became a dual American citizen in 2010 and is ranked 13th. Haas moved from Germany to Florida in 1991. His daughter, Valentina, 2, was born in the United States and his fiancée, Sara Foster, is American. While John Isner of North Carolina has cracked the top 20 since then, Haas, who continues to represent Germany, said that he was fine with anyone who wanted to consider him an American player. “It’s up to reporters here in the U.S., and if you look at it that way, if you think I’m also representing the U.S. flag even though it’s not there,” said Haas, who beat Paul Henri Mathieu of France, 6-4, 6-4, 6-1, on Tuesday in the first round of the United States Open. “In many ways I feel like I am, so maybe you guys should, too.” Haas did, however, briefly switch to officially representing the United States when he was sidelined with injuries in 2010. But “USA” has never appeared next to his name in a tournament draw because Haas switched back to Germany when he returned. “I was injured at the time, and I just wanted to see my American flag next to my name, for fun,” he said. “That was right after I got the citizenship, I was proud of it, proud to have both, and it was a fun process for me to have done that. But I knew if I would continue to keep the U.S. flag next to my name once I get back to tour and playing, I knew the German press would just basically kill me. I don’t know, I think it would have caused too much of a scene back home in Germany.” Still, Haas contends there would be benefits to playing for the United States. “It would be nice to have some support from the U.S.T.A., in many ways,” he said “They have great coaches, and great help — Brad Gilbert is now on board as well with the U.S.T.A. — and they have a lot of great opportunities. It would be fun in some ways. And in many ways a lot of the guys joke around sometimes that I’m basically representing the U.S. as well. It’s something that you always sort of play with in your mind, but at the end of the day I just go out there and try to play tennis and do my best.” Patrick McEnroe, the general manager of player development for the United States Tennis Association, said that recruiting foreign-born players was not something he would do. “I would love for Tommy Haas to be an American, but that’s his call,” McEnroe said. “I know that he thought about that a couple of years ago. But at least from my perspective with the U.S.T.A., I can tell you that we don’t pursue any players that have that dual citizenship. I would never go to Tommy Haas and say, ‘Hey, I really want you to play for the U.S.’ In my role with the U.S.T.A., I wouldn’t do that.” The player ranked in the top 20 more likely to represent the United States may be No. 17 Kevin Anderson, a South African set to play his first-round match Wednesday. Anderson, 27, played at Illinois, and married an American, Kelsey, who played for the Illini’s women’s golf team. Anderson has a green card and is a permanent resident through marriage. He will be eligible to apply for full American citizenship in two years. Anderson said American citizenship would allow him to live in the United States with his wife once his career is over and make international travel during his career easier. According to Anderson, he faces more scrutiny and requires more visas when traveling on a South African passport. But Anderson contends that becoming an American citizen is “not something I’ve given any thought to at this moment in time.” The South African Davis Cup captain, John-Laffnie de Jager, said he believed his country’s top player would switch citizenship. “I mean he says he’s not, but I believe that 100 percent that’s what he wants to do,” de Jager said. “And if he wants to do it and it’s a business decision, then nobody can criticize him.” De Jager’s loss would be McEnroe’s gain. “If Kevin Anderson decided to play for the U.S., it would be great for me to go up and say we’ve got nine Americans in the top 100 instead of eight,” McEnroe said. “But does that really change the landscape of American tennis, and what we do on a daily basis, trying to help our players? No, it doesn’t. To me, the only way it changes is if he plays for the country in Davis Cup or in the Olympics.” McEnroe added: “Again, we are America, so if people want to come and become Americans, I’m all for it. I think it’s great, I would love Haas and Anderson to be Americans, just because I think that’s what America is.” American men went 5-2 on Tuesday. Isner defeated Filippo Volandri, 6-0, 6-2, 6-3, his most lopsided win at a Grand Slam event in his career. Sam Querrey, the No. 26 seed, defeated Guido Pella, 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-1, 6-2. Jack Sock, who is the third-highest ranked American, at No. 86, advanced when Philipp Petzschner retired at 7-6 (2), 3-6, 5-2. Denis Kudla of Virginia beat his fellow 20-year-old Jiri Vesely, 6-2, 6-2, 6-7 (6), 7-5. Donald Young, a once-hyped junior prodigy who has fallen to No. 157, produced an astounding rout against the listless Martin Klizan, beating the 46th-ranked Slovak, 6-1, 6-0, 6-1. Collin Altamirano, 17, who qualified for the main draw by winning the U.S.T.A. Boys National Tennis Championships in Kalamazoo, Mich., lost, 6-1, 6-3, 6-1, to 22nd-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber. Steve Johnson lost, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (9), 6-2, to Tobias Kamke of Germany. |