At the Erste Bank Open in Vienna, it was top-seeded David Ferrer against unseeded American Steve Johnson in the final. This was the American’s first ever final while the Spaniard was looking to become the first player in 2015 to win three ATP 500 titles, already winning in Rio and Acapulco this year. Johnson would go up a set, but Ferrer, as always, found a way to will himself and outplay his opponent for the title 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 for his fifth title of the year.
Johnson With The Opening Set
The American held to open the match and threatened in Ferrer’s opening service game using his forehand to dictate points. Ferrer faltered at 30-40 hitting a forehand wide to give the American the break. The American number three fell behind in the fifth game but saved three break points coming from behind 15-40. Ferrer continued to press Johnson on the American’s next service game. At 40-30, Johnson hit a drop shot, but the Spaniard showed off his wheels hitting an angled forehand pass past the American.
Johnson was broken to get the set back on serve after hitting a forehand wide. The unseeded American struck back to break the top seed in the tenth game for the set as he hit a forehand winner behind him and moved within a set of his first ever tour-level title.
Ferrer’s Two Early Breaks Levels The Match
The second set saw three breaks of serve in the first three games, but it was Ferrer who broke twice and took the set under his control after Johnson netted a forehand. After saving a set point to keep him in the set, Johnson was once again a victim of Ferrer’s phenomenal shotmaking as he took a Johnson backhand slice and finished it off with the drop volley. Another netted forehand from the American number three on a big point to level the match.
Late Break For Ferrer Clinches Fifth Title Of The Year
Johnson continued to hang in toe-to-toe with one of the world’s finest as he displayed tremendous shotmaking himself with a drop volley winner himself in the fifth game. In the seventh game, the American fell behind 0-40 and at 30-40, went with a huge kick serve out wide which would follow with a forehand winner to get it back to deuce.
He held in that game saving four break opportunities which was massive for the American. However in the 11th game, the American fell behind 0-40 and double-faulted on double break point down to gift Ferrer the break. It didn’t take long for the Spaniard to clinch his fifth title as he held at love to take home the Vienna crown.
All was not lost for Johnson though as moves to a new career high at 33. He also proved he could hang in with the best players in the world as he nearly completed the upset against Ferrer and defeated the likes of Alexander Dolgopolov, Jerzy Janowicz, Kevin Anderson, and Ernests Gulbis to get to that first career final.