Blumberg/Johnson Surge To Newport Title

William Blumberg and Steve Johnson capped a dream debut tournament as a team on Sunday at the Infosys Hall of Fame Open in Newport, where the home favourites upset Raven Klaasen and Marcelo Melo to lift the trophy at the ATP 250 event.

Blumberg and Johnson triumphed 6-4, 7-5 in the championship match against the top-seeded South African-Brazilian duo on the grass in Rhode Island.

“It’s a great event to win. It’s fun to win here at the Hall of Fame, and I’ve got one of each here,” said 2018 singles champion Johnson. “I’m pretty happy about it.

“I’ve wanted to play with Will [before], and it just hasn’t worked out in the past. This year it worked out. It’s a good run, 4-0, and we’ll try and keep it going.”

A solitary break deep in each set was enough for the American pair to complete an 82-minute victory. Blumberg and Johnson were a constant threat in return games, carving out 17 break point opportunities overall while facing just four against their own delivery.

“I’ve said it all week, he’s an amazing guy, and out there he helps me a lot,” said Blumberg. “He calms me down. He knew in the last game I would be a little nervous, and he just slows me down. It’s given me the confidence in those big moments. He said ‘If it’s open just hit it.’ He’s an amazing player and I really could not have done it without him.”

After edging Jason Kubler and Jordan Thompson in a first-round Match Tie-break thriller on Tuesday, fourth seeds Blumberg and Johnson did not drop a set en route to the title in Newport.

It is a second ATP Tour doubles title for both players. Blumberg was defending his 2021 title, won alongside Jack Sock, this week in Newport. Johnson was appearing in his eighth tour-level doubles final on Sunday, but his 2016 win in Geneva alongside Sam Querrey was his only previous doubles crown.