Steve Johnson beat Tennys Sandgren in three-sets to successfully defend his title in an all-American final at the US Men's Clay Court Championship.
The sixth-seeded Johnson broke eighth-seeded Sandgren in the ninth game of the final set and then held serve to close out the match 7-6 (7-2) 2-6 6-4 in two hours 22 minutes.
With the win, world No.51 Johnson secured his third ATP Tour title and became the first repeat winner of the US Men's Clay Court Championship since Andy Roddick in 2002.
Sandgren, who was appearing in the first ATP singles final of his career, was ready for battle as they traded a break in a back-and-forth opening set that Johnson ultimately claimed in a tiebreak.
Johnson wobbled at times during the second set as Sandgren fought off each of the seven break points he faced and broke his opponent in the sixth and eighth games to force a decider.
But in the third set Johnson, whose run to the final this week included a quarter-final win over top seed and world No.9 John Isner, did not flinch and got the only break he would need in the penultimate game to set up his victory.
