Tommy Haas in swine flu scare (Roundup)

Nov 3, 2009, 13:16 GMT

   Hamburg - German tennis player Tommy Haas has overcome a bout of swine flu quickly because of his fitness as a professional athlete, the nation's Davis Cup team doctor said on Tuesday.

'Athletes are more resistant than other people, leading to a shorter and less violent illness,' doctor Erich Rembeck said.

The Bild daily reported on Tuesday that Haas, 31, contracted the H1N1 virus and had to withdraw from the Stockholm tournament after the first round two weeks ago. He subsequently cancelled his appearance this week in Basle.

   'It started after the game (in Stockholm). A sore throat, and then shivering fits and a fever during the night. It was really bad for three days and I could not leave my hotel room. I felt really bad,' Haas told Bild.

   'I did the test because I suspected swine flu. The test was positive. Naturally that was a shock for me.'

Haas has undergone a second test and is hoping to be fit to play again next week at the Paris Masters.

   He echoed Rembeck's statements, saying: 'I know that swine flu is a severe kind of flu. If if you are in a good physical condition like me then you can beat this flu fairly quickly.'

The men's tennis body ATP issued guidelines for players in connection with swine flu months ago and the Basle tournament also published basic rules for the public.

'Like all tennis players Tommy Haas travels a lot. That leads to a greater risk of infection,' said Rembeck.

Swine flu is more and more affecting the world of sport.

   Athletes in various countries have suffered from the disease and in France a first division football game between Olympique Marseille and Paris St Germain had to be cancelled last month.

   Confronted with swine flu and a regular flu epidemic, Ukraine may decide to have Wednesday's Champions League match between Dynamo Kiev and Inter Milan played behind closed doors.

However, there is no reason for panic, German Olympic Committee general director Michael Vesper said with just over three months left ahead of the Winter Games in Vancouver.

The sentiment is likely shared in other countries as well, and Vesper said his committee is leaving it up to athletes and there doctors to decide on a vaccination or not.

'We are monitoring the situation together with our sports federations,' said Vesper.