Steve Johnson vs John Isner Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Houston

Prediction published on 06/04/2022, 07:39  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 06/04/2022 at 09:15 in Tennis Predictions

An American quarter finalist is guaranteed in the US Men's Clay Court Championships. Fourth seeded John Isner is up against unseeded Steve Johnson. Isner began this week ranked 27th in the world and that's 81 places higher than his opponent. He will be looking for a good run in this event, it'll be an early birthday present for him if he does as he turns 37 in the last week of April  This year has seen him reach the semi-finals in Dallas and the last 16 at Indian Wells but this is his first clay court event of 2022. Isner has had more success this year on the doubles circuit with title wins in both Indian Wells and Miami with partners Jack Sock and Hubert Hurkacz respectively. His record on clay isn't spectacular but he has done well in this event. He lost in the 2012 final and then won the title the following year. He's reached two quarter finals and a semi-final since then. His best run in the French Open has been reaching the fourth round. Last year saw him beat Roberto Bautista Agut and Andrey Rublev in the Madrid Masters so he does have ability on this surface.

Steve Johnson can also play well on clay and won this tournament in both 2017 and 2018. His bid for a hat-trick didn't go well as he lost in his first match to the then world number 242 Daniel Elahi Galan. Six years ago he reached his highest ever ranking of 21st but is outside the top 100 at present and has dropped 23 places this year. His best performance this year came in Adelaide and Delray Beach, when getting to the last 16. He failed to qualify for the recent Miami Masters, losing in the second qualifying round to Jack Sock, who was ranked 144th at the time.  To reach this second round, he beat Denis Kudla in three sets, losing the middle one. He's had 10 previous matches against Isner and won six of them. That includes a quarter final win here in 2018. He has in fact won his last five matches against Isner with the most recent being in the 2020 US Open. Johnson's form has dipped though and Isner can be backed to get a win.