Tommy Haas returns after year out to complete emotional win in Stuttgart

The German veteran made his comeback at the Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart where he completed a 6-4, 7-5 win over Mikhail Kukushkin.

Haas hasn't played a competitive match after shoulder surgery last June.

“It was a very special feeling, especially when I didn’t know what it would feel like or how you might perform walking out onto court," said Haas.

"You obviously want to play your best tennis in front of a home crowd in Germany. There were emotions before and after the match, but it was a great start to get a win.”

“The positive thing was that I felt ready to go out there and finally see where I am at.

“Obviously, it is still not at a point where I want it to be, but maybe it will never get back to that point anyway. You have to start somewhere and see what’s going on, especially during a match.

“There were times when it felt sore still, where it didn’t give me the strength or the speed I would like. But you’ve got to test it out and see how it feels and how I recover today, tomorrow. It didn’t get worse during the match, which is a good thing.”

Haas will face Australia's Bernard Tomic in the second round.

Jerzy Janowicz (Poland) beat Dustin Brown (Germany) 6-7(5) 6-4 6-3

Matthias Bachinger (Germany) beat Peter Gojowczyk (Germany) 7-5 7-5

Tommy Haas (Germany) beat Mikhail Kukushkin (Kazakhstan) 6-4 7-5

Samuel Groth (Australia) beat Sergiy Stakhovsky (Ukraine) 4-6 7-5 5-3 (Stakhovsky retired)

Andreas Seppi (Italy) beat Benjamin Becker (Germany) 6-1 6-2

Alexander Zverev (Germany) beat Mate Pavic (Croatia) 3-6 6-2 6-3

Marcos Baghdatis (Cyprus) beat Lukas Rosol (Czech Republic) 6-3 6-4

Mischa Zverev (Germany) beat 7-Dominic Thiem (Austria) 7-6(4) 6-2

Andreas Haider-Maurer (Austria) beat Maximilian Marterer (Germany) 7-6(5) 6-3

5-Bernard Tomic (Australia) beat Jan-Lennard Struff (Germany) 6-3 7-6(5)

8-Viktor Troicki (Serbia) beat Borna Coric (Croatia) 6-2 6-0