By Chris Oddo | Monday June 13, 2016
Steve Johnson snapped a 13-match winnless streak against the ATP’s Top 10 on a rainy Monday in London, taking down 4th-seeded Richard Gasquet, 7-6(2), 6-2, for his first career Top 10 win.
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The 26-year-old had to overcome a very ominous beginning--and some threatening skies--to get it done. Johnson fell behind 4-0 and was facing a break point to go down 5-0 but rallied to level things, saving a set point before a rain delay stopped play for a significant spell.
When they returned the American kept the momentum, winning a first-set tiebreaker then breaking immediately in the second set.
Gasquet, suffering a letdown in his first match since playing his first career Roland Garros quarterfinal, was more of a spectator in the second set as Johnson attacked with precision, keeping the Frenchman on the defense for most of the rallies.
Johnson finished with nine aces and saved six of eight break points, including the only one he faced in the second set.
Johnson improved to 8-10 on grass and will face either Guillermo Garcia-Lopez or Adrian Mannarino in the second round. The rain cancelled all other matches on Monday at Queen’s Club.
The top three seeds will be in action tomorrow in London, as No. 2 seed Stan Wawrinka opens with Fernando Verdasco, top seed Andy Murray opens with Nicolas Mahut and No. 3 seeded Milos Raonic opens with Nick Kyrgios.