Andrew Ong/USTA
Steve Johnson had a busy 2011 in preparation for a full-time professional career in 2012. On the collegiate level, he captured the 2011 NCAA Division I singles title at USC and led the Trojans to their third NCAA team title in his three years at the school. The five-time All-American also reached the final at the USTA/ITA National Indoor Championships in December 2010 to earn the 2010-11 National Player of the Year honors. Johnson’s individual NCAA title earned him a wild card into the 2011 US Open, where he pushed top-40 player Alex Bogomolov Jr. to five sets in the opening round. Following the US Open, Johnson won back-to-back USTA Pro Circuit Futures titles in California for his first pro titles and later won the doubles title at the Challenger in Knoxville, Tenn., and reached the doubles final at the $100,000 event in Tiburon, Calif. In addition, he was named a practice partner for the U.S. Davis Cup team’s 2011 quarterfinal against Spain in Austin, Texas.