Steve Johnson, currently ranked No. 63 in the world in singles, is a 4-time ATP tour winner and Olympic bronze medalist in mixed doubles with fellow American Jack Sock. At USC, he won four team national championships, two individual championships and ended his career with a 72 match winning streak. We recently sat down with Steve to get to know him better.
Q: What has been your best moment on a tennis court?
A: My best moment on court would have to be either winning the NCAA team title with USC during my time at the university or winning my first ATP title in Nottingham back in 2016. It was an incredible moment and I was lucky enough to have my father, wife, coaches, and the closest people to me there to see it happen live.
Q: What sports did you play as a kid?
A: I played a ton of sports as a kid. I played golf, tennis, basketball, baseball, and football all competitively until about 15-16 years old and then decided to focus more on tennis at that point.
Q: What is your all time favorite movie?
A: My all time favorite movie would have to be Gladiator. I don’t know what it is, but whenever it is on TV I find myself watching it over and over again.
Q: What is your favorite shot in tennis?
A: Anyone who has seen me play for more than a couple minutes would probably guess that the forehand is my favorite shot. I try to hit it 100% of the time.
Q: What is your favorite food?
A: My favorite food would be Mexican food. I can eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week.
Q: Who is your sports hero?
A: I grew up watching all kinds of sports so my heroes were Cal Ripken, Ken Griffey Jr., and Michael Jordan. On the tennis side I grew up idolizing Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi.
Q: If you weren’t a tennis player, what would you like to be?
A: If I wasn’t a professional tennis player, I would love to be a professional hockey player. I love the game and how quick it is. I also love the incredible athleticism those guys have.
Q: What’s your favorite tournament on tour?
A: My favorite tournament on tour would have to be the BNP Paribas Open Tournament at Indian Wells. It’s the closest event to where I grew up and I absolutely love having my friends and family come out and watch what I get to do on a daily basis. It’s fun for me to share these moments with the ones I love.
Q: What is your favorite part about the World TeamTennis format?
A: The best part of World TeamTennis is the team aspect. I love being part of a team and rooting for your teammates. We don’t have too many opportunities to do this throughout the year and I think it’s a blast to get to compete alongside your teammates.