It was exactly one year ago that Tommy Haas got a “visit” from an iguana more than one meter long called “Iggy” during his first round match in Miami. Also these days the scaled lizards are not shocked by the hustle and bustle in Crandon Park. One of them dropped by during Petra Kvitova’s training.
The two-time Wimbledon winner from the Czech Republic wrote on Twitter about the picture showing the iguana sitting on the fence: “This little guy had a good view of our training today”.
However, observers immediately noticed that this specimen was not an “Iggy”. This iguana had especially impressed Tommy Haas with its surprising appearance in March 2017.
“That was really cool. Maybe he got the information that this was probably my last game and just wanted to say’hi’,” Haas joked last year after the animal climbed onto the scoreboard in his match against Czech Jiri Vesely (7:6, 3:6, 5:7) at 3:3 in the last set.
The chair referee instructed the professionals at the time to continue playing because the animal was “harmless”. But Vesely refused: “I can’t concentrate on the serve,” complained the Czech. The game was interrupted for minutes. The spectators on Court 1 clapped – and celebrated “Iggy”.
Haas quickly made another selfie with the surprise guest in the background before the giant lizard could be caught with a towel and removed from the facility with the active help of a helper. It was really funny. And the photo with him was really interesting,” Haas marveled twelve months ago.