Individual success pales in comparison to what twins can achieve
in doubles
MORGAN HILL
You wonder how it works.
How do Live Oak seniors Derek and Dylan Johnson work so well together on the tennis court? Yes, they are both tremendously gifted for their sport with lanky but strapping 6-foot-5 frames — Derek insists he’s taller most of the time. Yes, they both have A averages. Yes, they both possess a disarmingly dry sense of humor that suggests they can get along with anyone.
But the Johnsons do not get along with each other. The singles standouts reiterated that before Tuesday’s match against Willow Glen as they warmed up with a doubles match against teammates Q. Farooqui and Bryant Gamboa, playing side by side just as they plan to do in postseason tournaments.
They prefer singles, but the Johnsons enjoy playing doubles with each other. Success is a happy medium.
“We just like winning,” Dylan said in between games. “We know each other, so we work pretty well together.”
So much that one can’t help but wonder how the 18-year-old identical twins — Dylan is one minute older – can be such a force and not get along.
“They’re brothers,” Farooqui said matter-of-factly, providing the best and only explanation. “They just don’t want to be twins. They don’t want to be noticed as twins, but they can’t do anything about that.”
To say they are making the most of their situation would be an understatement. Off the court, the Johnsons go “everywhere together,” teammates said, and are congenial with each other.
“They argue recreationally,” their mother, Melody said.
On the court, they dominate as a team and as individuals. Dylan and Derek both moved to 5-2 in Santa Teresa Division play after beating Ryan Troilo and Brandon Snodgras, respectively, in the Nos. 1-2 singles matches Tuesday to help the Acorns beat the Rams 5-2 for the first time in three years.
Before that, they were launching balls past Farooqui and Bryant, sending their onlooking teammates scattering with each 90-plus mph serve and overhand smash.
“You trying to kill me?” Ryan Rupp quipped.
Live Oak coach Brad Leach, who has marveled at the Johnson’s peculiarly clashing talent since joining the program in 2008, said the twins can qualify for the Central Coast Section Championships if they stick together. Though they could both challenge for the Santa Teresa Division singles title, the Johnsons stand a better chance of advancing farther in doubles.
“There’s a lot of serious singles talent out there,” Leach said. “But they’re as good as any team in doubles.
“Derek can just pound the ball, come in behind it and hit a clean winner. And Dylan is great as more of a finesse player. He goes for more drop shots and angles like that. That’s not to say that Dylan can’t rip a ball either.”
On top of normal practice, the brothers Johnson have spent the last two years training with swing coach Marcus Hughes of Gilroy.
“I wasn’t playing well until then,” Derek said. “I knew I could do better. I just needed more experience. I’ve only been playing for five years.”
“We kind of wanted to take tennis more serious,” Dylan added.
The brothers’ swings have improved along with their in-match mentality.
“They’ve matured a lot this year,” Leach said. “Previously, you would find them in a tight situation, and they would tighten up. They would get frustrated. Now they’re much more calm. Derek and Dylan get down to business.”
Tuesday Derek avenged one of his two losses this year, outlasting Triolo 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (7-3). Derek’s other defeat came against Branham star Val Spokoiny, who is ranked in the 18-and-under level of the USTA. That match went three sets as well with Johnson earning three match points.
“That says a lot about the talent Derek has,” Leach said.
Dylan played with superior focus in prevailing against Snodgrass, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
The Acorns also received a No. 2 doubles win by Rupp and Dane Cleeton and clutch singles victories by freshman Tanner Hallinan and Bryan Freitas, who have been just as key in Live Oak’s rise to third place.
“It would definitely be respectable if we could finish this way,” Leach said. “We’d love to at least take third and see the twins go to CCS.”
Though composed, the Johnsons remain fierce competitors. Their sibling rivalry pushes them to outperform each other in singles play and stock up for postmatch ribbing.
“We give each other a hard time, definitely,” Derek said. “I guess we sort of feed off other in that sense. We want to see the other guy be successful, but we can get on each other’s nerves.”
As long as they make sectionals, both should be happy in the end — that is until they start going to class together again next year at Gavilan College. The brothers who don’t get along want to start a tennis program there together.
You wonder why. Is it because they secretly do enjoy being around each other?
“I think it’s because we love tennis,” Dylan said.
