By Adrianna Outlaw | Saturday, October 24, 2015

 

Steve Johnson beat Ernests Gulbis for the third time, 6-3, 7-6 (4) to reach his first ATP final in Vienna.

Photo credit: Erste Bank Open

Steve Johnson fired the final word to reach his first final.

Johnson slammed his 12th ace to close a 6-3, 7-6 (4) victory over Ernests Gulbis and advance to his first career final in Vienna.

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The former all American at USC is the first American to reach the Vienna final since 1994 when Andre Agassi defeated Michael Stich in the title match.

Johnson, who leads the tournament in aces (64), will play either top-seeded David Ferrer or sixth-seeded Gael Monfils in tomorrow's final.

Showing no signs of fatigue from his two hour, 38-minute victory over second-seeded Kevin Anderson yesterday, Johnson beat Gulbis in forehand exchanges and backed up his second serve with vigor, winning 10 of 12 second-serve points, to take the opening set on the strength of a single break.

The US Open doubles semifinalist hit a drop volley off a serve-and-volley to take a 4-3 lead in the tie break. Testing Gulbis' forehand, Johnson scraped back some running forehands drawing a pair of forehand errors to earn triple match point at 6-3.

On his second match point, Johnson slid an ace down the middle closing in 91 minutes.