<img title="Steve Johnson" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2017/may/Steve-Johnson.jpg" alt="Steve Johnson" />Steve Johnson
America's Steve Johnson wept as he paid tribute to his late father, describing his French Open first-round victory as "one the hardest matches I've played".
Steve Johnson senior, a widely-respected coach of more than 30 years in California, passed away suddenly earlier in May. He was just 58. His son admitted he had suffered a rollercoaster of emotions as he came back yesterday to defeat Japan's Yuichi Sugita in a match held over from Sunday night.
Johnson, 27, eventually saw off Sugita 6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-7 (4/7), 6-3 having had match points on Sunday when darkness halted the tie after six games of the fourth set.
"Just a lot of the emotions. You know, my dad he was such a big part of my tennis life, just an emotional time. Yeah, it's not about tennis right now," said the American 25th seed.

America's Steve Johnson wept as he paid tribute to his late father, describing his French Open first-round victory as&nbsp;"one the hardest matches I've played"

French Open: Tearful Steve Johnson pays tribute to late father

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Home / Sports / Other Sports / Article / French Open: Tearful Steve Johnson pays tribute to late father

French Open: Tearful Steve Johnson pays tribute to late father

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