“Tennis started to feel more like a chore,” Steve Johnson outs the harsh reality of pro tennis as he bows out from the sport

The American talks on the challenges of balancing his family life and professional career as he says goodbye to the sport after 12 years on the Tour.

“Tennis started to feel more like a chore,” Steve Johnson outs the harsh reality of pro tennis as he bows out from the sport

Steve Johnson says goodbye to the crowd with his family (Image via IMAGO)

Former World No. 21 Steve Johnson finally hung up his racket from professional tennis. The 34-year-old was playing at his beloved Indian Wells Masters for one final time before calling it a day on his career.

A Californian resident since his birth, the Indian Wells Tennis Garden was a home tournament for the American and it was only natural to pick it as his outgoing tournament. The four-time ATP Tour title winner signed up for both singles and doubles for his last dance at the tennis paradise.

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As he was ranked 242 in the singles rankings, he had to play the qualifiers to make the main-draw. While fans would have hoped he could get a wildcard, the tournament officials thought otherwise. Johnson put on a brave fight in the qualifier but lost his match in a thrilling three-setter.

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Despite holding multiple match points, he could not win the match that included two lengthy tiebreaks. He partnered compatriot Tommy Paul in the doubles but had a first-round exit. The all-American duo squared off against the team of Nikola Mektic and Wesley Koolhof who won the match in straight-sets.

With the defeat, Johnson finally ended his career after playing for 12 years as a professional. Following the doubles clash, Johnson was invited for a special segment on Tennis Channel. Touching on numerous topics, the American finally revealed what went into the decision to retire. 

For me, tennis started to feel more like a job and a chore than the enjoyment and the fun that I had. All the little things that went into it, the rehab, the warm-ups, the cooldown, the travel, that was just becoming really unenjoyable. But the competing is still fun.
Said Johnson.
I loved to go out there and compete with whoever it is. That will never get old. But all the other stuff that goes into it was starting to become not something that I looked forward to every day. And the travel with the kids was tough.
Added the American.

Olympics Bronze remains one of Steve Johnson’s best result

Johnson didn’t turn pro immediately. He attended the University of Southern California (USC) and played college tennis. He was a highly successful player winning the NCAA Men’s Singles Championship in his junior and senior seasons in 2011 and 2012 respectively.

Steve Johnson and Jack Sock
Steve Johnson and Jack Sock with their Rio Olympics Bronze medals (Image via IMAGO)

He was instrumental in USC winning four consecutive NCAA Championships before he turned pro in 2012. The team spirit and success helped him on national duty as well. He was part of the American team that made the semi-finals at the 2018 Davis Cup.

He partnered Jack Sock in men’s doubles at the 2016 Rio Olympics. The pair didn’t drop a single set to their way to the semi-finals. They however lost out on the place to reach the finals as Romania’s Florin Mergea and Horia Tecau won the clash.

But they still brought a medal back home as the Americans defeated the Canadian pair of Daniel Nestor and Vasek Pospisil. After four singles Tour titles, two doubles titles, an Olympic bronze and a short stint as highest ranked American singles player, Johnson has finally bowed out of the sport.

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