As good as we remembered, Johansson advances

Johansson def Jenkins, 7-6,7-6
Okun def Baker, 6-4,7-6(3)
Bogomolov def Lindahl, 6-3,6-3
Bloomfield/Im def Kim/Mamiit, 7-6(4),7-5
Kuznetsov def Rehnquist, 6-7(8), 7-6(3), 6-2
Warburg def Ram, 7-6, 6-4
Johansson def Wilson 6-4,6-4
Bourgeois/Vemic def Ebelthite/Lindahl 7-6(5),6-2
Oudsema/Sweeting def Warburg/Briaud 4-6,6-4,10-6
Bogomolov/Okun def Brzezicki/Crugnola 6-4,6-2
Bloomfield/Im def Kim/Mamiit 7-6(4), 7-5

Noam Okun held off Jamie Baker to advance. Baker got break points in the 2nd and 8th game of the 2nd set, but needed 3 errors from Okun in the 10th game to convert the break and even the set. In the tiebreak, Okun got out to a 4-1 lead, but the critical point was an errant return of a 2nd serve from Baker after a correction for 5-1. Okun hit an ace and then a volley that tipped the net and dropped over for the win.

Thomas Johansson traded solid service games with Scoville Jenkins in a relatively routine match. Johansson started out with 2 aces and set the pace for comfortable service games throughout the match; he only lost 3 points on his serve in the 2nd set and had 13 aces total. What seemed to bother him was his ability to dig into Jenkins' service games. Johansson had all 3 of his break chances in the 2nd set, but couldn't convert. Johansson got out to a 5-1 lead in the 1st tiebreak, and only lost the 1st point in the 2nd tiebreak. He did have a set point against him in that 1st tiebreak, but that was about it as far as the questions. Lots of professionalism displayed in the 1st singles matches today... Okun/Baker/Johansson/Jenkins... focused, not complaining much, and making you aware they were trying their best.

Johansson later improved his day by defeating Brian Wilson, who had reached a Challenger semifinal 2 weeks ago, in straight sets. Johansson thrived on the charging Wilson, consistently passing him or forcing a volley error. Johansson broke in the 3rd game of the 1st set and at love in the 1st game of the 2nd set to keep the pressure on Wilson. Johansson produced 2 winner passing shots to close out the final game.


Johansson seemed all business thru both matches. No worrying about line calls or other stuff he couldn't control... it was win the next point. He didn't necessarily have massive powerful groundstrokes. What he had was a killer backhand against Wilson, a killer kicking 2nd serve against Jenkins. It reminded you more of Murray a couple years ago than it did of Philippoussis. None the less, the killer focus/come-up-with-the-awesome was there... we recognized that.

Johansson quotes from the feature match of the day:
On Wilson coming to the net in the 1st set and how that suited his game:
“Yeah, I like when my opponent comes to the net because I like to stay on the baseline and pass. That is one of my strengths.”
On positives of today:
“Well, a positive thing is I got 2 matches today. I haven’t done that in a while, but that is what I was looking for here, I was looking for matches coming here so.”