STEVE JOHNSON BEATS DARIAN KING, 6-2, 6-3

Written by: Staff on 19th September 2011

STEVE JOHNSON BEATS DARIAN KING, 6-2, 6-3 |

POMONA VALLEY HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER USTA PRO CLASSIC

CLAREMONT, CA * SEPTEMBER 12-18, 2011

Site: The Claremont Club, Claremont, CA Main Draw: (32 singles, 16 doubles)

Surface: Hard/Outdoor Prize Money: $10,000

Website: (www.procircuit.usta.com)

STEVE JOHNSON BEATS DARIAN KING, 6-2, 6-3, TO WIN 16th ANNUAL POMONA VALLEY HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER USTA PRO CLASSIC

Serving bigger and bigger each game, Steve Johnson captured his first USTA Pro Circuit Futures event with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Darian King on Sunday in the final of the 16^th annual Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center USTA $10,000 Pro Classic played at the Claremont Club.

“It feels good to come back and do it here,” said Johnson, who tournament Barry Friedman recalled has been playing junior events at Claremont since he was six years old. “It’s fun to come back and see people I’ve known for a long time. I’ve lost matches here and I’ve won tournaments here. It’s a fantastic facility.”

Johnson started quickly with an early break and 3-0 lead relying on his booming serve on big points. “My serve got me out of trouble today at times,” he said. “It’s something I’ve definitely been working on.”

The 21-year-old Johnson, who lost in three sets to college rival Daniel Kosakowski in the finals at a Sacramento Futures event back in June, will now rest and prepare to win back-to-back Futures events as he is entered in the Costa Mesa Futures tournament this week.

So is King, a 19-year-old from Barbados. “I just came out a little flat,” said King, who earned 10 ATP ranking points and will likely move into the Top 800 when the new rankings are released. “For me it was a new exposure to someone who serves so big and whose ball is so heavy. All in all it was a good tournament for me. Hopefully next week in Costa Mesa I’ll come out victorious.”

Sunday’s Final Result

Singles

Steve Johnson, U.S. (1), def. Darian King, Barbados, 6-2, 6-3

For more information, check on the web at:www.procircuit.usta.com, www.claremontclub.com; Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/The-Claremont-Club/236147226396

Recent Claremont Champions

Year Singles Winner Singles Runner-up Doubles Champions

2011 Steve Johnson Darian King Alexandre Lacroix-Sanam Singh

2010 Gary Sacks Devin Britton Taylor Fogleman-Chris Kearney

2009 Matej Bocko Bradley Klahn Brett Joelson-Ashwin Kumar

2008 Tigran Martirosyan Adriano Biasello Marcus Fugate-Nima Roshan

2007 Carsten Ball Robert Yim Nikita Kryvonos-Michael McClune

2006 Dudi Sela Sascha Kloer Ryler DeHeart-Dennis Zivkovic