Philip Johnson

Philip Johnson (born September 11, 1964) is a former professional tennis player from the United States.

Biography Johnson, the son of a preacher, is originally from the small Georgia town of Tunnel Hill, in the mountains near the Tennessee border. He was a Georgian state champion as a junior and the top ranked 16s player in 1981.

Small in stature, Johnson learned to hit the ball with both hands and throughout his career used two-handed shots for both forehands and backhands. At the 1989 US Open he again entered the draw as a qualifier but on this occasion got past his first round opponent, with a straight sets win over Cássio Motta. He also won his second round match over Sweden's Anders Järryd, who had to retire hurt early in the second set, after losing the first. It was then, in the third round, that Johnson came up against Agassi, a match he lost in straight sets.

His best win on the Grand Prix/ATP tour came at the 1989 U.S. Pro Championships in Boston, where he upset a top ten player, Alberto Mancini, to make the round of 16. He had lost in qualifying and only got in the tournament as a lucky loser, but was able to defeat the third seeded Argentine 7–6, 6–2.

Following his playing career he worked for many years as a teaching professional at the Hixson Racquet Club in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Since 2003 he has been the head coach of the tennis program at Baylor.

Challenger titles Singles: (2)