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The Dutchman is never lacking pretexts

Seppi beat Federer and then failed to use the match point for his first even Grand Slam quarterfinals. He was not too disappointed though. Haase has been using a cold as a pretext for a month already, during which time he didn't get a single set in three matches

Zagreb lost Cilic, which was just another blow for a tournament at which a 35-year-old was made first seed. Even though Zagreb won't see great, well-known players, there are a few who managed to stun great players. Berrer, who is playing qualifying matches here, managed to defeat Nadal and there's also Seppi, who shocked Melbourne by knocking out Federer. Before that match, he managed to get a single set in 23 they played. Federer opened the match slow and couldn't get back on time. Seppi took advantage of it to record the greatest win of his carrier. He went on to meet Kyrgios and missed a match-point for his first even Grand Slam quarter finals. 

- Even though I won the first two sets, I was not happy with my game. I missed my chance to tie another two match points in tie-break and that was it. That's tennis. Sometimes you go on to win after saving a break point and sometimes your opponents does that - the Italian said and added:

- My goal is to be in the Top 30 and to be seeded at Grand Slams. If I managed to get better than that, that's great.

That precisely might be the greatest problem for Seppi. Even when he had the chance of making it to Top 10, it seemed like he was constantly warning the media about not belonging there. At least we know he won't get full of himself after the win over Federer. Good news is, he doesn't have a whole lot point to defend the next few months. He managed to tie wins in Monte Carlo for the first time last season and is now set to play the tournament he always enjoys:

- Zagreb Indoors is the first indoors tournament in Europe. I usually drive to Zagreb because it's that close. I know a lot of people there and that makes me feel good. I like coming back to Zagreb.

His first round opponent Haase cannot be happy with the start of the season. Not only has he not recorded a single win - he has not won a single set so far. Coric, who is 1-3 this season, beat him easily, while he retired from a match against the French underdog when being only a game short of defeat. His ego clearly didn't let him stay in the match for that one remaining game. Judging by what he said, there were no expectations of Australian Open, especially after he learned he would face Simon. Not even when healthy was he able to do anything against Simon and this time round got a total of 8 games in 3 sets to went on with some more lamenting:

- I hoped I would feel the ball better, that I would attack. But I realized from the start that it would be mission impossible. I was just not ready. I even thought about pulling out - Haase said about the problems he had for weeks due to a cold and went on complain about the draw:

- Did you see who we had to face in AO first round doubles tournament? Melo and Dodig. Now that's bad luck. 

The Dutchman said once that the conditions in Zagreb don't suit him but he took advantage of the opportunity he was presented with two years ago when he met Veic, who is always bad home, and then injured Petzschner and Klizan. Last year he didn't come to Zagreb, saying he was more interested in clay and even missed the Dutch tournament in Rotterdam. He's back indoors now, proving that he lacks consistency both on the court and off. As for his meetings with Seppi, Haase won two out of their 6 head-to-head matches, having lost all 3 indoors. 

Seppi is one of the candidates for the title in Zagreb this year. He began his season with a great game in Doha where he lost to Berdych; then he lost to Pospisil in Sydney, but he entered that match as if it were practice in order to warm up for Australian Open. Then he almost won the quarter-finals of AO playing against Kyrgios, and the round before that he beat Federer. He feels great in Zagreb and he loves coming there. He's in great shape and doesn't feel any pressure as the seed (or as the person who beat Federer). Haase is unclear about his game, motivation and goals. For each failure he'll simply find an excuse. He started his season badly by losing to Coric and Simon, convincingly. He's not that interested and he's quite frustrated and displeased with himself. Despite the current situation in which Seppi is stable, motivated and in great shape, and Hasse is the complete opposite. Seppi is the better player and he should cover the handicap.