Johnson saves match point, snags wild card into Australian Open

Steve Johnson comes back from the brink of defeat to earn the USTA’s wild card into next month’s Australian Open. Johnson battles past Tennys Sandgren in five sets in Sunday’s championship match of the eight-man tournament held in Atlanta, GA.

Steve Johnson played his way into the main draw of the 2014 Australian Open by winning the USTA Australian Open Wild Card Playoffs on Sunday afternoon in Atlanta, GA. Johnson saved one match point before beating Tennys Sandgren 4-6, 6-3, 0-6, 7-6(5), 6-1 in the title match.

After splitting the first two sets, Johnson found himself in serious trouble throughout the third and the fourth. In fact, the world No. 156 did not win a single game in the middle frame and he twisted an ankle midway through the fourth on one of several spills he took during the match. Nonetheless, Johnson saved a match point serving at 4-5 with a clutch ace.

Sandgren still had chances when he went up a mini-break in the ensuing tiebreaker. The former Tennessee Volunteer, however, could not convert. After missing his opportunity to close it out prior to a fifth, Sandgren was not the same player during the decider. Johnson, a relatively experienced five-set competitor, had little trouble finishing off an opponent who was struggling both mentally and physically.

“I just kind of ran the best play I could,” Johnson said, referring to his big serve down match point. “Luckily, it worked…and here we are. That’s just tennis. He’s one point away from winning and 20 minutes later I’m up a break and trying to squeeze him for another one.

“I’m excited to finally win a five-set match,” Johnson added. “I [had been] 0 for 4; 0 for 3 this year. So I’m glad to get one.”

Johnson lost in the first round of every Grand Slam in 2013–including in five sets at the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon. The former USC Trojan missed last year’s Atlanta event due to injury but went through qualifying to reach the main draw in Melbourne before losing a tight one to Nicolas Almagro.

photos courtesy of Steen Kirby (Tennis East Coast)