University Southern California Trojans
Two Trojan Champs In U.S. Open Main Draw
August 26, 2011 | Men's Tennis
Aug. 26, 2011
Teammates on two USC NCAA Championship teams and both proud owners of NCAA individual titles, Trojans Steve Johnson and Robert Farah are both now bound for the U.S. Open main draw, starting August 29. USC senior Johnson has been a member of three straight NCAA Championship teams, and recently also claimed the 2011 NCAA Singles title. Farah was by his side for the first two of those team championships and picked up the 2008 NCAA Doubles crown as well, before finishing his USC playing career and returning to Colombia for his pro campaign. Now, the two champs -- who also paired up to win the 2010 Pac-10 Doubles Championship together -- will be reunited in the prestigious U.S. Open singles main draw.
Johnson earned his wild card into the main draw as the reigning 2011 NCAA Singles Champion. He will face fellow countryman Alex Bogomolov Jr., whose last U.S. Open appearance was in 2006. The winner of that match would likely face No. 6 seed Robin Soderling, who has been a quarterfinalist the past two years at the US Open. Johnson is playing as an amateur, and plans to return to USC in the spring in order to help the Trojans go in pursuit of a fourth consecutive NCAA Team title.
Farah's first round opponent is still to be determined, as he pushed through three rounds of qualifying to punch his ticket to the main draw. The Colombian native topped Germany's Dominik Meffert 6-3, 6-7 (1), 6-3 in the third round to secure his place with the contenders. His second round match was a quick decision, as he took down another German, Andre Begemann 6-2, 6-0. Farah had some strong momentum going into the match, thanks to a powerful comeback upset win in the first round. There, Farah delivered a 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3 win over Brazil's Julio Silva, who had been seeded 32 in qualifying. Farah's main draw first round opponent is still to be determined.
For more information, visit usopen.org.
