How Steve Johnson Balances Tennis & Family Life

Lexington Challenger

Steve Johnson knows what it is like to win ATP Tour titles, reach the Top 25 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings and win an Olympic medal. The past two-and-a-half years, the 33-year-old has also learned what it means to be a father of two daughters, and he is still finding success on court.

The American has won two ATP Challenger Tour trophies in the past month, triumphing in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and Lexington, Kentucky. Despite winning just five matches across the first six months of the year, Johnson returned to the winners’ circle, ending his three-year title drought at all levels.

“Anytime you can be the last man standing in any tournament, it’s always the goal,” Johnson told ATPTour.com. “You’d like to get your year started a little sooner than June or July, but better late than never.”

A four-time tour-level titlist, Johnson's role as a father has shifted his point of view. Married to his wife Kendall for five years, they have two daughters: Emma (two) and Molly (three months). Johnson, who is in his 11th year as a pro, has willingly changed his schedule since becoming a father to priortise more family time.

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“There’s so much more to life than tennis. Sometimes we get so inundated with this sport, we are so involved in it,” said Johnson, who is in action this week at the Stanford Challenger. “We’re kind of in the weeds, we can’t see through the shadows. Having a family really puts life into perspective.

“I don’t want to be gone that long, it’s not enjoyable for me to be gone for that long and not see them. I try to play maybe two, three weeks in a row, that’s about it and then get home. It’s definitely changed a lot over my career, but I couldn’t be happier with my life and where I’m at.”

When Johnson is at home in California, he prefers to start training as early as 5 a.m. before spending all afternoon with his family. As Emma has grown into her toddler years, the former World No. 21 has noticed a little bit of himself in her ‘non-stop energy’.

Whether he’s on the road competing or in the gym at home before the sun rises, Johnson is thankful for Kendall’s support.

“Luckily my wife is a rockstar, she’s the rock of our house,” Johnson said. “She knows that my world is not easy and when I’m home I still need to put in the work to go out and compete on the road.”

This year has not been easy for the American, who is three victories shy of 200 career match wins on the ATP Tour. In June, he fell out of the Top 200 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings for the first time since 2012.

Johnson has since climbed to World No. 179, but not before dealing with some doubts.

“There’s a lot of days that it’s very hard, it’s not easy. I spent somewhere close to seven or eight years in the Top 50, a lot of that time in the 30s. It’s not easy to see the number 200 next to my name,” Johnson said. “It’s not ideal, there’s a lot of times that I think the end is imminent or very possible, or that it’s not worth it to keep doing this.

“All those thoughts kind of creep into your head, but it’s one of those things where I feel like I just have another really good push in me.”

Johnson’s two Challenger titles put him atop the leaderboard for the US Open wild card challenge, earning him a main draw spot at Flushing Meadows for the 13th consecutive year.

“It’s kind of hard to believe. I remember as a kid just wanting to play it once,” Johnson said. “Now it’ll be my 13th straight main draw. Pretty wild. I’ve taken it all in. It’s been a quite run so hopefully I can just go there, put my best foot forward. I know I belong with those guys so I just need to go out there and play.”

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Perhaps this year will be one of the more memorable trips to the American major, as Johnson will be alongside Kendall, Emma and Molly for their first trip to a tournament as a family of four.

A bronze medallist in doubles (w/ Jack Sock) at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Johnson does not have concrete goals for the rest of his career. Turning 34 in December, the former University of Southern California star has a different approach.

“To the last day I play tennis, I just want to know that I’m trying to get better whatever that may be, mentally, physically, competition wise,” Johnson said. “Until I feel like that’s no longer possible, I’m going to try and do that each and every day I step out onto court.

“It’s not like life or death that I need to get back into the Top 100 or Top 50. I just want to know that every day I go out there, I put my best foot forward, compete hard, and try to get the most out of this sport that has given me so much in my life.”