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Johnson outlasts Sandgren for successive Houston titles
Steve Johnson outlasted Tennys Sandgren to complete a successful defence of the US Men's Clay Court Championship on Sunday.
In an all-American final in Houston, world number 51 Johnson edged a 7-6 (7-2) 2-6 6-4 victory after two hours and 22 minutes.
Sandgren fended off four break points before failing to consolidate a break of his own as the opening set went to a tie-break that his opponent won comfortably.
The Australian Open quarter-finalist did not lose confidence, exemplified by a tweener in game five of the second set, and he forced a decider that proved a much closer affair.
Sandgren was the first to slip up, though, and Johnson staved off a break point before clinching the title.
The @MensClayCourt title goes to @SJohnson_89 for the 2nd straight year, 76(2) 26 64 over Tennys Sandgren. Johnson becomes the first player to win back-to-back #USClay titles since @AndyRoddick in 2001-02.
— ATP Media Info (@ATPMediaInfo) April 15, 2018