Haas living life to the full, on and off court

Tommy Haas is happy to push the limits, whether on or off the tennis court.

During the US Open the 24-year-old, who on Friday advanced to the third round with a 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 win over Karol Kucera, was pictured in a New York newspaper posing naked with a blonde model girlfriend.

Later that same day he became one of the few male players ever to be challenged by officials about the clothing he wore.

John McEnroe once came out on court with black shorts at Wimbledon and was sent off to change them for traditional white. In New York, where usually anything goes, Haas was told to change his sleeveless shirt for something more acceptable.

The muscled shoulder image would have fitted the Hamburg Hunk down to the ground. He is the ATP Tour's action man, doing things that must make those around him cringe with fear that he could end his career with a moment of carelessness or bad luck.

"I'm pretty extreme," Haas said.

"I go hang gliding off the mountains, I like mountain bike riding, I've parachuted, and I flew with the Blue Angels (the US Air Force precision-flying display team), which was a once in a lifetime experience.

"And I like fast cars. I know a lot of people who give me the opportunity to try them out once in a while.

"Anything I get a chance to do and I feel comfortable doing, I'll do it. I've done a lot of crazy things. Sometimes I think you have to live on the edge a little bit to make it exciting.

"Some people don't always agree and ask why I risk my life for something so stupid, which I also agree. But sometimes without risk, it's no fun. I think you only live once."

SAFER INTERESTS

He does also enjoy slightly more sedate pastimes, however.

"I like all kind of sports. Anything to do with a ball I play it -- basketball, soccer, ping pong whatever. Swimming too. I live in Florida so I like to go to the beach and relax, go to the movies, hang out with friends, talk to them."

Among his safer interests he also collects watches and art.

"I like watches. I try to collect them now. I have a watch contract in Germany and they're really nice watches and they're very kind to me and give me a lot of them.

"I'm trying to collect paintings," he said. "I have a few paintings hanging in my house now. They are something that I enjoy looking at and am fascinated by.

"I like Van Gogh...Salvador Dali. They're inspiring but so different. What must have gone through Dali's head to have painted these things?"

Haas still finds time for charity despite such a full life.

"I'm working with World Vision," he said. "It's nice to give something back to these people from third world countries. But it's tough for me with my schedule to get down to Africa and visit the people. If I have a week off, the last thing I want to do is get on another plane.

"It's something, though, that I'll get more and more involved with as my career comes to an end and I'll put as much as I can into it.

"You basically go to the villages and visit people and hang out with them. We learn about their culture and how they live happily with so little. You don't realise when you get angry with small things, it's all so unimportant when you compare what other people have. We can forget how good we have it."

Despite his love of living dangerously, Haas is concerned for those around him. Shortly before Wimbledon his parents were seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, a near-tragedy that affected him badly.

"I try to enjoy life every day and do the best thing that I can, and try to tell people how much I love them and that I care because you really never know when it is too late," he said. "That is something that scares me."