Johnson's 2017 Houston title was the last match his dad saw of him. The win was particularly emotional for Johnson, whose father, Steve Johnson Sr., died 11 months ago. Read More: Johnson: 'Life Throws A Curveball Sometimes' Always happy to come back here and start my clay-court season,” Johnson said. The people are awesome, everybody involved with the tournament makes it so special. You get the atmosphere of the country club, everything that goes with it. This is one of the best tournaments of the year. He beat five Americans – Ernesto Escobedo, Frances Tiafoe, John Isner, Taylor Fritz and Sandgren – to hoist his third ATP World Tour title (2017 Houston, 2016 Nottingham). The California native had to go through his compatriots to pull it off. Johnson became the first American to go back-to-back in Houston since Andy Roddick in 2001-02. The 28-year-old American retained his Houston title during an emotional final on Sunday, beating compatriot Tennys Sandgren 7-6(2), 2-6, 6-4 at the Fayez Sarofim & Co. Steve Johnson should celebrate his wedding with an extra-wide grin next weekend.
