| Match: Finished | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S. Johnson (USA) | 3 | 7(7) | 6 | 3 | 6 |
| A. De Minaur (AUS) [25] | 6 | 6(4) | 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Completed Sets | ||
|---|---|---|
| Set won by S. Johnson | 6 - 3 | S. Johnson leads 3 to 2 |
| Set won by A. De Minaur | 3 - 6 | A. De Minaur has tied the match at 2 sets all |
| Set won by S. Johnson | 6 - 3 | S. Johnson leads 2 to 1 |
| Set won by S. Johnson | 7(7) - 6(4) | S. Johnson has tied the match at 1 set all |
| Set won by A. De Minaur | 3 - 6 | A. De Minaur leads 0 to 1 |
Alex De Minaur will be out for another progression at Wimbledon after a strong opening, but he runs into American Steve Johnson, who will provide an enormous challenge with his power game. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 8pm (AEST).
While the duo have never fought it out on the grass courts before, looking at the relative strengths of each players game, you’d have to say it plays into the hands of Johnson a little bit.
The only problem Johnson will have is staying patient enough to break down De Minaur, who is ferocious in his ability to track down every ball, and extremely good at the net.
That is what De Minaur will need to work into, although the fact Wimbledon seems to be playing a little slower this year should bring it back into his favour.
The Australian was excellent during the first round as he went past Marco Cecchinato in straight sets, particularly in winning the first set 6-0.
He was held back a fraction after that, needing a tiebreaker to get through the third, but he looks in good shape and showed no signs of ordinary form which were on the display during the lead-in grass court tournaments.
Johnson, on the other hand, came away with a fairly straight forward victory over the clay court specialist Albert Ramos Vinolas.
Like De Minaur, his form was pretty shoddy in the lead-up to Wimbledon, not making it past the second round in Halle or Eastbourne.
His service percentage has struggled greatly during those tournaments, and it’s something he absolutely must get right if he is to turn ordinary form into good form when he takes on an excellent returner and mover like De Minaur.
Prediction
This promises to be a fairly interesting match. Johnson should pick up one of the first two sets to keep it really interesting, but De Minaur is a great mover and fast learner, so he should kick away, although he needs to avoid playing tiebreakers.
De Minaur in four sets.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this second-round match at Wimbledon from 8pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Start time: 8pm (AEST)
Venue: All England Club, London
TV: Live, Fox Sports
Online: Live, Foxtel App, Foxtel Now, Kayo Sports
In brief
Guest
Have to admit I don't follow players based on nationality so was happy to see Johnson win as he seemed like a good bloke compared to a typical Aussie brat
David Holden
Roar Guru
Heartbreak for Alex De Minaur as he has gone down in 5 sets to Steve Johnson tonight. De Minaur got ahead on a lot of Johnson service games in that last set but Johnson was too good under immense pressure. He took his chance on the De Minaur serve whereas Alex didn't take his. In the end, Johnson's serve and forehand game was a little too strong for De Minaur. Good night all
David Holden
Roar Guru
GAME SET MATCH STEVE JOHNSON Good rally before Johnson nets his backhand. 0-15 Forehand miss from Johnson. 0-30 Good body serve and forehand return is long. 15-30 Big serve and forehand. 30-30 and that is the difference right there Great play from De Minaur and he brings up break back point De Minaur misses on a kick serve return. Deuce Big serve brings up match point Fantastic rally to finish it and Johnson has done it. De Minaur 6 6 3 6 3 Johnson 3 7 6 3 6
David Holden
Roar Guru
Good serve and forehand approach. 15-0 Great return and off forehand winner. 15-15 Too good from Johnson there with his backhand dropping at De Minaur's toes. 15-30 De Minaur misses and is down 15-40 Forehand pass forces a De Minaur volley and he has taken his chance De Minaur 6 6 3 6 3 Johnson 3 7 6 3 5
David Holden
Roar Guru
Johnson just hanging on. De Minaur has had all the chances. Will that start to tell? De Minaur 6 6 3 6 3 Johnson 3 7 6 3 4
David Holden
Roar Guru
Fantastic work at the net from De Minaur. 0-15 Johnson sends his forehand long and De Minaur needs to take this. 0-30 Great serve down the T is unplayable. 15-30 De Minaur just catches the tape with his backhand 30-30 Double fault.30-40 and break point Johnson saves with a kicker and big forehand. Deuce Great smash from Johnson to give him game point Deep return and Johnson nets his forehand. Deuce Forehand from Johnson sets that up. Ad Johnson De Minaur nets the backhand and Johnson holds De Minaur 6 6 3 6 3 Johnson 3 7 6 3 4
David Holden
Roar Guru
Double fault. 0-15 Deep serve from De Minaur draws an error. 15-15 Good serve wide to the forehand. 30-15 Johnson goes long on his forehand. 40-15 Good backhand return puts De Minaur under pressure. 40-30 Great defence from De Minaur before he wins at the net De Minaur 6 6 3 6 3 Johnson 3 7 6 3 3
David Holden
Roar Guru
Johnson's forehand is just long. 0-15 Johnson dominates that with a forehand winner. 15-15 De Minaur nets a backhand. 30-15 Great serve wide to the backhand is an ace. 40-15 Serve down the T is too good and Johnson holds De Minaur 6 6 3 6 2 Johnson 3 7 6 3 3
Scott Pryde
Expert
Just feel De Minaur needed to break on one of those 0-30 opportunities.
David Holden
Roar Guru
First serve down the T draws the error. 15-0 Backhand sliced approach but Johnson's forehand too good, 15-15 De Minaur controls that point with his forehand. 30-15 Good body serve draws the backhand error. 40-15 Deep second serve and De Minaur holds De Minaur 6 6 3 6 2 Johnson 3 7 6 3 2
David Holden
Roar Guru
Great scrambled return and Johnson misses the approach. 0-15 Double fault. It's 0-30 First serve sits up the forehand winner. 15-30 De Minaur's forehand catches the tape. 30-30 De Minaur misses the backhand pass. 40-30 Strong backhand return forces the slice error. Deuce Johnson backs up and cracks the forehand winner. Good serve down the T and he has served well under pressure to hold De Minaur 6 6 3 6 1 Johnson 3 7 6 3 2
David Holden
Roar Guru
Unplayable serve down the T. 15-0 Good approach and forehand volley winner. 30-0 Serve cramps Johnson for space. 40-0 Good serve to the backhand and De Minaur holds De Minaur 6 6 3 6 1 Johnson 3 7 6 3 1
David Holden
Roar Guru
Great backhand from De Minaur draws a forehand error. 0-15 Unforced error from Johnson 0-30 Couple of big forehands from Johnson. 15-30 Great serve out wide. 30-30 Forehand winner down the line from Johnson. 40-30 Ace out wide to the backhand and game De Minaur 6 6 3 6 0 Johnson 3 7 6 3 1
David Holden
Roar Guru
FOURTH SET DE MINAUR 6-3. TWO SETS ALL Johnson errs with the backhand 15-0 Big ace down the T. 30-0 Good defence from De Minaur and Johnson nets the forehand. 40-0 Big serve again and De Minaur has taken this to a decider De Minaur 6 6 3 6 Johnson 3 7 6 3
David Holden
Roar Guru
Great backhand from Johnson 15-0 De Minaur just misses the forehand down the line. 30-0 Johnson sends his slice backhand long. 30-15 Great serve wide to the backhand. 40-15 Big ace down the T and a comfortable hold De Minaur 6 6 3 5 Johnson 3 7 6 3
David Holden
Roar Guru
De Minaur has become more aggressive in last few games and it appears to be working De Minaur 6 6 3 5 Johnson 3 7 6 2
David Holden
Roar Guru
Good serve for 15-0 Off forehand from De Minaur just misses. 15-15 Sliding serve wins that point.30-15 Johnson approaches but nets the backhand volley. 40-15 Classy net play from De Minaur and he holds for 5-2 De Minaur 6 6 3 5 Johnson 3 7 6 2
David Holden
Roar Guru
Serve hits the line and De Minaur can't control. 15-0 Johnson goes long with his forehand. 15-15 Johnson long again with a forehand. 15-30 Johnson hits a forehand down the line and draws an error. 30-30 Sliding serve is too good. 40-30 Forehand from Johnson is wide. Deuce Huge backhand winner down the line from De Minaur. Break point Big kicking serve from Johnson saves the break point De Minaur with the forehand winner this time. He has lifted! De Minaur controlling with the forehand again and gets the break! De Minaur 6 6 3 4 Johnson 3 7 6 2