Steve Johnson faced off against Ivo Karlovic for a spot in the finals of the Citi Open. After a hot start in the doubles match in which Daniel Nestor and Edouard Roger-Vasselin won (on-court temperatures were 133 degrees Fahrenheit (56 Celsius)), the American and Croatian faced an even hotter battle as on-court temperatures blasted to 146 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Croatian would win in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, to book his spot in tomorrow's final.
Johnson Can’t Convert Early, Allows Karlovic To Break Following Game
Johnson was tested in his opening service game but made it through unscathed. In Karlovic’s opening service game, the American had a couple of looks at break point, both at 30-40 and an advantage. He could not however, convert it, leaving him questioning if he would pay the price later on. The answer to him paying the price later on would be a resounding yes right away. The Croat earned his lone break point at advantage and converted with no problem.
Karlovic would consolidate the break at love, and it was smooth sailing from there. Neither man would get another look at break point throughout the rest of the set, and the Croat would throw down a love service hold to take the opening set 6-4. The key stat in the first set was Johnson only winning 70 percent of first serve points. That number is good enough against most players but hitting second serves allows the Croat to get looks of getting balls in play.
More Of The Same In Set Two As Karlovic Closes It Out
Karlovic ran into some early trouble on serve after double faulting on deuce to give the American a break point. Johnson could not convert on his break point, and he was paid to pay for it in the next game. Johnson ran into some trouble as well but a couple of errors from Karlovic, as well as some great shotmaking from Johnson, saved him from 15-40 down. Despite that though, a couple of great returns helped set up two more break points, and the American would gift the break after hitting a volley long.
The Nottingham champion put himself in great position to get looks at break points after he hit his forehand right at Karlovic who was at the net for 0-30. He would eventually get two looks to break back, but Karlovic would save them with a couple of aces. Johnson was visibly upset with the chair umpire on the second ace at 30-40 as he believed it was a let and, he let the chair hear it. It would not matter though as Karlovic delivered one more ace plus an error from Johnson would help the Croatian consolidate the break for 3-1.
It was a quick turnaround for the American who held quickly 2-3 but could not get any looks on the Croat’s serve once again. Just like the first set, it was quick service games after that as neither man was able to get another look at break point. Karlovic closed out the match with four aces, one of them catching just the tiniest bit of the line shown on a Johnson challenge, to book his spot in the final where he will face off against Gael Monfils or Alexander Zverev who play later tonight.