Background
Haanes was born in Drammen as the son of businessman Thorgny Haanes and his wife Hedvig Kristine Clausen. He grew up in Aker, along with five brothers.
Haanes was born in Drammen as the son of businessman Thorgny Haanes and his wife Hedvig Kristine Clausen. He grew up in Aker, along with five brothers.
He was among Norway"s best tennis players of all time. He worked some years in a sports shop, and eventually started his own little sports shop in Oslo in 1936. Of these were 21 in single, 13 in double, and five in mixed double.
He published the book Tennis for alle in 1937.
In addition to tennis, Haanes also excelled in ski jumping, high jump and bandy. In 1937 he was awarded Egebergs Ærespris.
During the Norwegian Campaign in World World War II Haanes participated in the battles of Bagn, Valdres. Later during the German occupation of Norway he was active in the "sports front", and was twice arrested and incarcerated at the Grini concentration camp.
First time in 1942 as "hostage", and the second time in 1943, serving nine months for participation in an "illegal" ski competition.
His book 1001 tenniskamp, issued in 1942, was subsequently forbidden. Haanes continued his active career after the war. His book Spill bedre tennis was published in 1946.
He was president of Norges Tennisforbund from 1956 to 1958.
He died in Oslo in 2000.
