Johnson outlasts Sandgren for successive Houston titles

Tennys Sandgren was unable to stop Steve Johnson going back to back at the US Men's Clay Court Championship.

Steve Johnson outlasted Tennys Sandgren to complete a successful defence of the US Men's Clay Court Championship on Sunday.

In an all-American final in Houston, world number 51 Johnson edged a 7-6 (7-2) 2-6 6-4 victory after two hours and 22 minutes.

Sandgren fended off four break points before failing to consolidate a break of his own as the opening set went to a tie-break that his opponent won comfortably.

The Australian Open quarter-finalist did not lose confidence, exemplified by a tweener in game five of the second set, and he forced a decider that proved a much closer affair.

Sandgren was the first to slip up, though, and Johnson staved off a break point before clinching the title.