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New York - Tommy Haas has switched allegiance from his native Germany to the United States, receiving US citizenship a few days after losing in the third round of the Australian Open to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Just a few weeks short of his 32nd birthday, the longtime Florida resident made it official last week in a ceremony in Tampa. The move meant Haas could theoretically play for the US David Cup team from September 2011.
"I have exciting news to tell, a few days (January 27) ago I became an American citizen!" Haas wrote on his website. "Along with about 300 other immigrants from over 70 different countries, I raised my right hand to swear the oath of allegiance.
"I desperately wanted to do this because the United States have really become my home over the past years, and that's why I considered it a logical step to apply for naturalisation. Of course, I wouldn't have done this if I hadn't had the option to keep my German passport."
Haas left open the decision for which nation to play should he be picked for a Davis Cup team.
"I now have the privilege of dual nationality, and I can continue playing for the German Davis Cup Team," he wrote. "Whether that will be the case in the immediate future, I can't yet say, but when the time comes I will give (captain) Patrick Kuehnen my decision."
Haas has lived in Florida for nearly two decades after moving to the Nick Bollettieri tennis camp at 13. He is engaged to American actress Sara Foster.
