Former tennis pro Tommy Haas recently did a residency at Amanyara. He talks travel, surviving injury, and joining the ownership team of the San Diego StingRays padel tennis team.
Thomas “Tommy” Haas is a German former professional tennis player that competed on the ATP Tour from 1996 to 2017, breaking into the world top 100 in 1997 and reaching a career-high singles ranking of world No. 2 in 2002. He has now added the padel tennis to his career, joining as an owner of the San Diego StingRays.
Tell us about your recent residency with your old coach, Scott Williams, at the Turks & Caicos Islands’ Amanyara as part of the Aman Legends tour
First off, any time I get to spend at Amanyara is always a privilege, and to do it with Scott, one of my childhood coaches and mentors in life, was even better. I’ve been so fortunate in my life to travel and visit some of the most beautiful places in the world because of tennis. Tennis is truly a lifetime sport that connects individuals together and we wanted to create experiences that did the same for groups.
READ: Never Forget a Thing With Kimpton & Anthropologie
You’re originally from Hamburg. Do you go back often?
I was born in Hamburg, which in my opinion is the prettiest city in Germany, and while I was playing on the tour, I always made sure to include Hamburg in my schedule. I still make the effort to visit as much as I can, but when I return to Germany now, Munich tends to be my central base. I make a point every summer to take my daughters to Germany; it’s important to me that they are familiar with German culture.
Amanyara Clubhouse
You split your time between Florida and California. What are your earliest memories of living in the US?
As a young player, when I moved from Germany to the States, I lived in Florida at the IMG Nick Bollettieri Academy. As an emerging pro, living and growing up at the academy was such a blessing. To be surrounded by amazing players and coaches was crucial to my success.
READ: A Seductive New Look for The Anam Spa
During your career, you experienced your fair share of injury. How did you cope with that?
I was able to compete on the APT Tour for a long time, longer than most, but it was full of injuries that side-lined. I consulted with the best doctors and trainers in the world and was lucky enough to have incredible support but there are certain things that are out of your control. Mentally, I had my share of internal battles and demons that I struggled with but that’s part of the journey and I take pride in the fact that some of the best years on tour were in the later stages of my playing days and I never gave up on myself.
Do you still play tennis most days?
I try to play as much tennis as possible. I compete in exhibitions globally and in the senior tours at the Grand Slams, which is always a blast. I’ll never lose the love for competition.
My new racket sport love has been the emergence of padel tennis here in the US. I’m involved with the San Diego StingRays, which is part of the Professional Padel League (PPL) that launched in the US this April. Padel is an awesome game and I love the similarities it has to tennis. I’m eager to watch the game grow and am loving being a part of the new league.
Some have also described you as the unofficial ambassador for dingles, which is a mash-up of singles and doubles. Do you think it can take off internationally?
Dingles is another project and endeavour that I’m really enjoying being a part of. We had an event earlier this year at the 2023 BNP Paribas Open, which was well received by many fans and players so it’s something that we want to build on. It’s a great equaliser for all players and levels and incorporates a bit of social interaction that you don’t get when playing traditional singles or doubles.
Tommy Haas at the 2012 US Open
Which emerging tennis players have caught your eye?
Watching Carlos Alcaraz the last 18 to 24 months has been fun. He’s an electric player that has won over so many fans because of his personality and playing style. I’ve also enjoyed watching Peyton Stearns; she’s flown up the rankings quickly and will be a player to keep an eye on for many years to come.
