Giant server Johansson eyes top 10
from Reuters
17 January 2005

STOCKHOLM, Jan 17 (Reuters) - He grew up in the same town as Bjorn Borg but that is about as far as the comparison goes for Joachim Johansson, Sweden's big hope at the Australian Open.

Raised in Sodertalje just south of Stockholm like the 11-times Grand Slam champion, the 22-year-old Johansson is not known for the kind of patient baseline play that saw Borg rule the tennis world in his day.

Johansson, ranked 11th in the world, has much more in common with American Andy Roddick, relying heavily on a devastating serve and a thunderous forehand that he used to hit wide far too often.

While world number two Roddick, who is the same age as Johansson, erupted on the tour at the tender age of 18, success came at a slower pace for the Swede.

Last year Johansson entered the top 100 for the first time and until 2004 he saw little action beyond challenger tournaments.

On home ground he was regularly awarded wild cards at the Stockholm Open but the 1.98-metre tall Johansson won few matches, impatiently squandering far too many points in the early rounds.

CRUCIAL ROLE

Then came 2004, and that was some year.

In February he played a crucial role in Sweden's Davis Cup quarter-final win over Australia, beating Mark Philippoussis in the singles and winning the doubles alongside Jonas Bjorkman.

Later that month he won his maiden title in Memphis without dropping a service game during the entire tournament.

He established himself as a future prospect when he overcame Roddick in an epic five-set battle in the quarter-finals at the U.S. Open. He then lost to Australian Lleyton Hewitt in the semi-finals.

He ended the year 12th in the world, having hit a total of 869 aces. Only Roddick surpassed him in that department.

This year Johansson has made an impressive start by grabbing his second career title in Adelaide, beating American Taylor Dent in the final.

"I've heard everyone saying it's tougher to back (a successful year) up," Johansson said after the Adelaide final.

"You've probably got more eyes on you, people looking at how you're going to play, but I think that if you keep playing the way you should, you have a good chance to back it up or maybe (do) even better."

INJURY FREE

With success has come respect from big names on the tour.

"Joachim is the kind of player who can make you sleepless the night before the match," Andre Agassi said of the Swede. "He doesn't just have an enormous serve and forehand but a big game in him."

Last week Johansson had to pull out of the Sydney International tournament because of a hamstring injury, but he was declared fit to play in Melbourne.

Seeded 11th in Melbourne, he was taking on Dutchman Sjeng Schalken in Monday's first round.

Provided he remains injury free, he has a chance to break into the top 10 during the tournament, but that might require him to defeat Agassi in the fourth round and he would then be likely to face world number one Roger Federer.

Johansson is still young and improving and it would be a surprise if he did not make it into the top 10 at some stage this year.

For a long while the boyfriend of Hewitt's sister Jaslyn, Johansson has benefited from training regularly with the Australian former world number one, who has taught him a thing or two about not wasting balls.

Johansson believes his biggest weapon can still get better. After beating Dent in the Adelaide final, he said: "I have to improve my serve if I'm going to go all the way in Melbourne."