University Southern California Trojans
Steve Johnson Is Pac-10 Player of the Week
February 22, 2011 | Men's Tennis
Feb. 22, 2011
Junior Steve Johnson beat highly ranked players in all three of USC's matches at the competitive ITA National Team Indoor Championships over the weekend, and has rightfully secured honors as the latest Trojan to be named Pac-10 Player of the Week. Three USC players have now won the award this year, and it's the second career honor for Johnson.
Ranked #4, Johnson first took down #10 Henrique Cunha of Duke in three sets and then went on cruise control as he served up straight-set wins in his next two matches. The next victim was one of his top Pac-10 rivals, #7 Bradley Klahn of Stanford, whom he topped with a solid 6-2, 6-3 win after having fallen to Klahn last month at the Sherwood Collegiate Cup.
On Sunday, Johnson had the clinching win for the Trojans with his 6-3, 6-3 win over #11 Austen Childs of Louisville. Those wins give Johnson a seven-match win streak in singles for a 20-3 overall record and a 7-0 mark in dual matches.
Johnson and the 8-2 Trojans are now home for two matches - including a rematch with Stanford after taking a 4-3 loss to the Cardinal on Saturday in Seattle. The Trojans will first host California in a 1:30 p.m. match on Friday (Feb. 25) before going up against Stanford at 1 p.m. on Saturday (Feb. 26) at Marks Stadium.
