Best Moments of 2016: The Stevie Johnson Comeback

American Stevie Johnson’s miraculous comeback at this year’s U.S. Open first round match against Evgeny Donskoy is up there with the best of them.

Serving down two sets, 2-5 and 0-40, Johnson somehow managed to dig himself out of the pack-your-bags deep hole. Facing three match points on his serve, Johnson was able to hold.

The American fought his way to a tie-break, where he dominated Donskoy, taking the third set 7-6(2).

In the fourth and fifth sets, Johnson picked up his serving, and Donskoy’s return level dropped. The top American also fed off the crowd and amped up his game, finishing the fifth set with 15 winners, or two fewer than he had hit during the entire first two sets.

When asked during his on-court post-match interview how he managed to save three match points, Johnson had no clue.

“The last three-and-a-half hours have been a little bit of a blur, to be honest. I was ready to pack my bags and go home, and I just found a way to get out of that service game at 5-2.

“After winning the third, I just gave myself a shot. I just figured maybe my best stuff’s not today, but I’ll use my legs and run and just find a way. And that’s what I’ve been doing all my life, and that’s what I’m going to continue to do,” said Johnson.