American Steve Johnson began his 2017 campaign in positive fashion, beating Frenchman Stephane Robert in his ASB Classic first round match in Auckland, New Zealand, 6/4 6/3.
The Frenchman, whose unique style – probing all-court tennis with a variety of spins and absent of any big weapons – makes any match a match of contrasts, is coming off his most successful year ever on tour. Having turned pro in 2001, it wasn’t until 2010 that Robert’s ranking cracked the top 100. While not double-handed on both wings, his play can remind one of The Magician, Fabrice Santoro, for the way in which it beguiles opponents and can draw errors.
As the match began that was just what happened. The conditions were perfect, 71º and a little wind, but Johnson’s game was not dialed in and Robert took advantage. In Johnson’s 2nd service game a lovely backhand return winner down the line in the ad court, plus two other down the line backhand winners, got Robert an early break on the normally big-serving American.
After Robert held, Johnson was in danger of going down a second break when serving at 2/4. He saved one break point, and eventually held with an ace when he challenged the initial out call and Hawkeye showed that his shot had caught the line.
Serving at 4/3, the crafty Frenchman missed his chance to pull ahead when he double faulted on ad in. After 5 deuce points Robert overcooked a short backhand approach, hitting it wide, and gave Johnson yet another break point opportunity. The pressure finally got to Robert, and after missing his first serve he missed again with his second, handing back his one break lead with a double fault.
From there Johnson took control. Though his first serve percentage was under 55% up till then, Johnson tightened the screws and put in 4 first serves to hold for 5/4, establishing real momentum. As Robert toed the baseline to serve at 4/5, he had lost the last 6 points in a row.
He promptly went down 0/30. While he won the 0/30 point with a drop volley, Johnson had begun to play more forcefully, aiming more to Robert’s only serviceable forehand, and the Yank got the break to take the first set 6/4.
Momentum is as momentum does, and Johnson, a tough competitor and one of the few college graduates on the main tour, cemented his dominance by putting in three out of four first serves in that first game of the second set. He was beginning to find his rhythm.
Service holds were traded. When Robert served the 2/3 game he kept it close and had brought himself to 30/30 when he double faulted again. On the break point Johnson approached forehand to forehand, dangerously opening the court, but he correctly anticipated that Robert would go for a return forehand crosscourt as a passing shot, and cut it off for a winning volley and the break.
After breaking for 4/2 it was a clean hold for Johnson to go up 5/2. If Robert wanted to stave off the loss he had to find the steadiness and accuracy that brought him success early in the first set. He dropped the first point. Nerves? But no, he came back with an ace at 0/15 and held on, forcing Johnson to serve it out.
At that stage Johnson had served 10 aces (though with 3 double faults as well), and won 90% of his first serve points. Clearly the match was his to take. He went down 15/30. A little wobble of his own? Not really. The American got his first serve into play again and was the steadier of the two in a long point, drawing a backhand error from Robert for 30/30.
A deep second serve brought Johnson to match point. He missed with a big first serve, and went wide to the ad court with the second serve kicker, and Robert fearlessly drove his backhand arrow-straight down the line for a winning return. Deuce. A long rally ensued, and John dropped a forehand short to the Frenchman’s forehand wing. He moved up assertively, hit an approach up the line and…..netted it. Match point #2.
Again Johnson missed his first deliver, and again he went wide with the kick serve. Amazingly, Robert stayed alive by once again going down the line with his backhand for a winner. Deuce.
The linchpin of the modern game, the big inside-out forehand hit for a winner, gave Johnson match point number 3. Johnson went to the Frenchman’s backhand a third time, but Robert went crosscourt. A rally began and Robert attempted an extremely undercut drop shot – did he retreat from the pressure of continuing the point? – and Johnson moved in and drove it hard at the Frenchman, who lofted it up meekly for Johnson to swat away for the win.
It was a workman-like performance from Johnson, a solid start to his year. He goes on to face the winner of Yen-Hsun Lu/Karen Karenchanov in the second round.
