Hot Haas Meets Roddick in Memphis

Haas is trying to become the second three-time winner at the Racquet Club of Memphis. Jimmy Connors won four titles here in 1978-79, 1983-84. In 1987, top-seeded and No. 2 ranked Stefan Edberg defeated No. 2 seed and No. 8 ranked Connors (Roddick’s coach) in the final. This is also the first final between two former Memphis winners since 1989 when Brad Gilbert defeated Johan Kriek.

Both players have yet to drop a set this week and in fact Haas has yet to face a break point on his serve. The winner receives 250 ATP Ranking points and $156,550 while the finalist earns 175 points and $77,750.

Haas owns a 5-3 career lifetime advantage over Roddick but he is 4-0 on clay and 1-3 on hard courts. Roddick has won three of the past four meetings. Haas won the last encounter 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, in the quarterfinals of the US Clay Court Championships in Houston in April 2006.

The 24-year-old Roddick holds a 21-4 record in Memphis and he is appearing in his first final since last year’s US Open (l. to Federer). His last title came prior to the US Open at ATP Masters Series Cincinnati on Aug. 20 (d. Ferrero). Roddick will improve from No. 4 to 3 in the ATP Rankings regardless of Sunday’s outcome. He enters with a 14-2 record on the season. He is 21-12 lifetime in finals and he’s won at least one ATP title every year since 2001.

Haas comes into his 20th career ATP final (10-9) with a 12-2 match record on the season. The 28-year-old German has won his last five ATP finals he’s appeared in since his last final loss in Rome (l. to Agassi) in May 2002. He owns a 25-6 career mark in Memphis. Haas is writing a blog for ATPtennis.com this week. His best result prior to this week was the Australian Open semifinals (l. to Gonzalez) last month. (ATP)