Johnson on Sinner: "I was convinced he would win a single match in his life"
Retired since Indian Wells in 2024, Steve Johnson spoke about Jannik Sinner. The American remembers their first encounter, in Rome in 2019: "I felt good, even though I knew I wasn't playing my best tennis in Rome, I was confident.
I was scheduled on center court in the first round against a 17-year-old. I hadn't heard anything about him, and I thought it would be a shame to lose this match.
I was a bit nervous, but I easily won the first set 6-1. I made some mistakes and played very badly in the second set, which I lost. We went into the third set and I had a few chances to win it, but I lost it.
When I got to the locker room, I called my agent and told him I was retiring. I told him I'd lost to a 17-year-old who was horrible.
My coach and agent told me to give him time and that they were convinced he would become a great player. Me, I was convinced he'd only win one match in his life, and that would be against me."
Johnson concludes with a laugh: "I'm delighted to see what a talent scout I am. The truth is, I could never have imagined that five years later I'd be in the position I am today.
But I'm happy to be a footnote in tennis history thanks to this match."
