Haarhuis Beats Forget for Blackrock Masters Title

Haarhuis defeated Guy Forget 6-1, 6-7, 10-8 in a thrilling final watched by a capacity crowd. The event, which is in its eleventh year, enjoyed an 18% increase in attendance from 2006, with more than 32,000 people coming through the doors.

Forget looked out of sorts in the first set, going down a double-break to trail 4-0. Haarhuis was in supreme form, capitalising on Forget’s poor first serve percentage with some thunderous return winners. He eventually broke for a third time to take the first set 6-1. 

The second set was a different story as Forget clawed his way back into the match. The Frenchman recovered his first serve percentage to clinch the crucial second set tie break and force a Champions’ Tie Break.

The turning point in the Champions’ Tie Break came when Haarhuis hit a spectacular backhand pass to gain a mini-break, and lead by 8-4. From that point, Haarhuis never looked back and eventually sealed victory with a stunning forehand down the line. It was an apt way to finish another impressive week for the Dutchman.

“It’s fantastic,” said Haarhuis.

“I started really well in the first set, but then Guy started serving tremendously and at the end I was lucky to escape with the win. 10-8 in the tie-break - you can’t get much closer than that.

The 41-year-old Haarhuis, whose major successes during his playing career came in doubles, has carved out a new career for himself on the BlackRock Tour of Champions. With three successive BlackRock Masters Tennis titles, he is arguably the best 40+ year-old tennis player in the world. It is an achievement that he puts down to supreme physical conditioning.

“I’m fit and I’m moving well and that’s the main ingredient. I work really hard on my fitness which is the key and I also still enjoy playing my tennis,” he said.

He joins John McEnroe as the only other player to win three consecutive BlackRock Masters Tennis titles.

“Winning three in a row is a great feeling because it was a real thrill to win here just the first time. Saying my name in the same breath as John McEnroe, well that’s amazing,” he said.

The BlackRock Tour of Champions will begin again in 2008 in Belfast, Northern Ireland between the 21st and 24th of February.

The final edition of the BlackRock Tennis Champions Podcast in 2008, featuring exclusive interviews with the players, and stars from the entertainment world, will be available to download from Tuesday.