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By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, September 9, 2015

 
Sam Querrey

Sam Querrey has advanced to the US Open doubles and mixed doubles semifinals.

Photo credit: Christopher Levy

NEW YORK—The flaming red, white and blue ball emblazoned on the back wall isn't the only sign of an American eruption at this US Open.

A couple of buddies bounced out of the opening round of singles have been burning through the doubles draw and now stand within one win of the US Open doubles final.

Stevie Johnson and Sam Querrey, both first-round singles casualties, swept Leonardo Mayer and Joao Sousa, 6-3, 6-4, on Louis Armstrong Stadium today to advance to their first Grand Slam doubles semifinal.

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The pair will take on No. 8-seeded Jamie Murray and John Peers for a spot in the final.

With the finish line so close in sight, the Americans, who knocked off defending champions Mike and Bob Bryan in the first round on Armstrong Stadium, aren't playing the typical "we don't look ahead in the draw" spin some players practice.

Querrey concedes he has contemplated the prospect of a US Open championship—and would be thrilled to achieve it with a good friend.

"It would be awesome. The focus is always kind of singles, but now that we got knocked out the first round of singles we've just been more and more into the doubles this week," Querrey said. "It's so much more exciting to do it with a friend rather than you know just another guy. Hopefully, we can play well and win two more. It would be exciting to say you're a US Open champion. A lot of times people don't ask if it's singles or doubles so you take whatever you can get."

Their summer doubles results didn't indicate these two would be playing for Grand Slam silverware in New York.

Johnson and Querrey lost to the Bryans in the Wimbledon second round, fell to former US Open doubles champion Max Mirnyi and Feliciano Lopez in the Washington, DC opening around and were second-round casualties to Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo in Cincinnati.

So how did they go from exactly one win during the North American summer hard-court season to one win away from the US Open doubles final?

"We're having fun. We're holding our serve. We're getting our returns down. We're winning some of those volley-volley exchanges," said Johnson, clad in a red t-shirt with the American flag across the front. "I think we always have that mentality and mind set going into an event. It's not often that Sam or I walk on a court—singles or doubles— thinking we're not going to win—if ever.

"It's just one of those things where this week we happen to be winning the bigger points and that's a big part of it. Those 30-all points and break points—if we can hold serve easily it puts less pressure on us—and on the return games we can really swing away. I think that's key. The games we connect it's really tough for the guy serving to kind of get out of that hole, I think."

The California natives have taken different paths to arrive at a shared destination. Johnson was a four-time all-American at USC, while Querrey declined a college scholarship offer from USC to turn pro at age 18 in June, 2006.

"We both have the same education, unfortunately, I haven't graduated yet," Johnson said with a smile. "I'm one semester short. I don't think there's any difference. Sam is a completely relaxed guy. Maybe his mannerisms are a little different than mine, but nothing you can tell one way or the other."

Both possess sledgehammer serves and heavy forehands. Covering only half the court in doubles enables both men to maximize their strengths ripping forehands while minimizing their shared weakness, the backhand.

Simplifying the game strategically and letting their best shots fly have helped the pair power into their first Grand Slam doubles semifinal together.

"Sam plays his best tennis when he's having fun and really seeing the ball and hitting the ball well," Johnson said. "I just try and tell him take a good swing at the ball. His best against anyone's best out there I like our chances. So that's what I tell him and we kind of go from there."

The 27-year-old Querrey is in the mix for a double title run.

Querrey has also advanced to the mixed doubles final with Bethanie Mattek-Sands. They defeated Andrea Hlavackova and Lukasz Kubot, 6-4, 6-3, on Court 17 to reach the title match.

Querrey is bidding to become the first man since Bob Bryan in 2010 to sweep both US Open doubles and mixed doubles titles. Bob Bryan won the doubles with twin brother Mike and captured the mixed doubles crown with Liezel Huber five years ago.

Asked to compare the experience of playing with the free-spirited Mattek-Sands, who won the Australian Open and Roland Garros ladies' doubles titles with Lucie Safarova, and Johnson, Querrey says his partners share a lot in common.

"It's actually somewhat similar," Querrey said, drawing a glance from Johnson as they sat side-by-side in the small interview room inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. "They're both fun, both easy to play with..."

"I think she hits the ball harder than me," Johnson interjected with a smile.

"She does," Querrey deadpanned. "A lot of times we're laughing on the court. Stevie knows Bethanie. Everyone gets along, we're all kind of friends. It makes it so much easier when you're playing with a friend so it's great to have that dynamic with both people."


 

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