Steve Johnson wins his first ATP title at the Aegon Open Nottingham 2016
Mon, 04 Jul 2016 00:00
By Contributor Helen Jackson
#AegonOpen2016
The 26-year-old American defeated the second seed Pablo Cuevas 7-6(5) 7-5 in an exciting final on the Centre Court at the Nottingham Tennis Centre. En-route to the title Johnson claimed impressive victories over John Millman, Vasek Pospisil, Andreas Seppi and top seeded Kevin Anderson.
The first set of the final stayed on serve with no break point opportunities for either player despite the score reaching deuce in several games. As the players reached the tiebreak a few spots of rain in the air gave slight cause for concern. Fortunately though it didn’t amount to anything more substantial and play continued.
Cuevas got off to a quick start in the tiebreak taking an early lead at 3-1 but Johnson quickly fought back to level the score at 3-3. Johnson then gained a lead of his own, almost crashing into a ball girl as he raced to the net to hit a winner right into the corner of the court, taking him ahead 6-4. Cuevas took the next point but could do nothing against Johnson’s powerful serve on set point as the American took the opening set by 7 points to 5.
Johnson gained an early break in the second set to lead 2-1 but at 4-3 Cuevas broke back to take the score to 4-4. With the score at 5-5 Johnson broke through again as a backhand from Cuevas sailed wide. Johnson hit an incredible drop shot to bring up his first match point as he served for the title at 6-5 but Cuevas hung in and Johnson’s nerves showed slightly as he hit the ball long. However on his second match point Johnson produced possibly an even better drop shot under pressure, taking the match to win his very first ATP world tour title. The American has shown incredible form so far this grass court season, reaching the Quarter-finals at the Queens Club with wins over Richard Gasquet and Marin Cilic there to add to his resume. He will definitely be one to watch at Wimbledon.
Johnson, who now returns to a career high ranking of 29, said after the Aegon Open final:
This is the highlight of my career so far no doubt. I want to say thanks to everyone who supported me. I won a Challenger here in 2013 to get into Wimbledon for the first time so Nottingham has a soft spot in my heart no doubt.
Steve Johnson, 2016 Aegon Open Champion
Pablo Cuevas added that, “It has been a fantastic week.”
He also commented that, “This is very good preparation for Wimbledon.”
Johnson tweeted a photo of himself with the trophy and the words “what an amazing week!!” We couldn’t agree more!!
Doubles Final
In the doubles final Britain’s Dominic Inglot and Canadian Daniel Nestor claimed the title 7-5 7-6(4) defeating Marcelo Melo and Ivan Dodig in a thrilling match. It was an extremely impressive performance in just their second tournament together. In the second set Dodig and Melo saved two match points before rain interrupted play for just over an hour. Inglot and Nestor showed nerves of steel on the restart, saving two set points before taking the match in an exciting tiebreak. After the match Inglot, a member of the GB Davis Cup winning team, commented, “It’s always tough closing out a match against that calibre of players. I’m so massively pumped, I can’t express it. Grass seems to be working for me, in Eastbourne and here. It really means a lot to me and Daniel.”