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Jack Sock Explains His Breakout Success
15 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
Arguably the most accomplished active American male tennis player, outside the Bryan Brothers and John Isner, Jack Sock revealed his sudden breakout success this year, on the ESPN panel with Patrick McEnroe, Brad Gilbert and Darren Cahill, following his Atlanta quarterfinal win vs. Lukas Lacko.
Here is some of what the recent Wimbledon doubles champion had to say:
“It (winning Wimbledon) was a dream come true. Being up there in the Royal Box with all the legends. As a kid you dream about winning Wimbledon. Even though it was doubles, still…we went through a pretty tough draw. It was surreal, pretty indescribable feeling. A moment we’ll never forget.” (Sock added that he and partner Vasek Pospisil were a last minute entry because of the Canadian’s back issues.)
His new mindset:
“I think it’s I can go out there now I feel good where my body is. I feel I can compete with a lot of players. I got out with a lot of confidence. I feel I can put it on the line every point. It started with Wimbledon. It’s really helped my game. It’s helped my confidence. I feel good about my body now, I feel I can last as long as I need to go and play through these tough matches. I feel very good where I am.”
“I feel I can battle with anyone now. I feel that’s where my body comes into play. I feel I can fight back well.”
Sock has won a US Open Mixed Doubles title (as a teenager), a US Open junior boys title (as a wildcard entry), a Delray Beach doubles title with James Blake, and now the most prestigious title of all, Wimbledon doubles. He’s reached the semis of his last two ATP events – Newport and Atlanta.
Now ranked in the 60-70s range, Sock, who will battle Michael Berrer in the first round and if he wins, #2 seed Milos Raonic at the Citi Open in Washington DC, is rapidly closing ground on the top American and daily Tampa practice partner/friend John Isner.
In one year’s time, it would not be a total shocker if Jack Sock is the top ranked American – and firmly entrenched in the top ten.
"I can battle with anyone now"
Dan Markowitz · July 27, 2014 at 4:17 pm
“In one year’s time, it would not be a total shocker if Jack Sock is the top ranked American – and firmly entrenched in the top ten.”
It would knock me over with a bulldozer. What are you kidding me. Besides beating Izzie at Newport which is really a different sport than tennis on that surface, who the heck has Jack Sock beaten this year or any year to make you think he could be Top 10 in a year?
Was it the Almagro win at the French when the Spaniard retired after 5 games? Was it beating Haas in the first tournament of the year? Was it beating Estrella Burgos in the 2nd round of Miami qualis?
Sock’s won 4 slam matches in 3 slams so far this year. What on earth makes you think he could be a Top 10 player in the world? His doubles win at Wimbledon? Jack Sock being in the Top 10 in one year’s time is total fantasy.
Andrew Miller · July 27, 2014 at 6:44 pm
Sock playing well. Lets see how he does this summer.
Scoop Malinowski · July 27, 2014 at 7:41 pm
I like Sock Dan always have, just an aura and vibe I sense from him, he’s now at a different level physically, and with that his mind is stronger now too. He’s committed to upping his fitness and training and we’re now seeing the results. Practicing with a tough nut like Isner every day is a big booster too. I think Sock will figure out how to handle Isner and this will give him the added confidence to surpass him in the rankings.
Gaurang · July 27, 2014 at 8:51 pm
Top 10? Sock would be doing great if he reaches top 40 in one year.
In 2 years though, I think he might reach top 30.
Andrew Miller · July 28, 2014 at 1:11 am
If u.s. players not just isner have a solid performance this summer like 05 and 06 that would be good. Been a while since two mens players caught fire during hardcourt stretch – u.s. women should do better than the men . Atlanta is a nice event but it is more junior to dc then canada and cincy .
Jack · July 28, 2014 at 8:45 pm
From Scoop :
he’s now at a different level physically, and with that his mind is stronger now too. He’s committed to upping his fitness and training and we’re now seeing the results.
Late-bloomer, due to increased fitness.
Hmmm.
Scoop Malinowski · July 28, 2014 at 10:10 pm
Jack, I think Sock took his time. He’s a laid back kid, he wasn’t in a rush to win win win. He took his time, felt the ropes, learned how the tour works, processed it all and now he’s coming into his own. There are so many different tour stops and things a young player has to deal with as a pro. Sock made his mistakes, learned the ropes, now he’s ready to blossom I feel.
Bryan · July 28, 2014 at 11:35 pm
I had a feeling when Sock won Wimbledon doubles with Popisil it would buoy his singles game. Getting a taste of victory does that, plus he’s been grinding so eventually it would pay off. 2 semifinals in three weeks is a great run but top 10 within a year? Doubt it.
Isner’s entrenched thanks to his great serve but Sock still doesn’t have one special weapon that sets him apart from a very deep top 20. I do expect he’ll be consistently in the top 40 by next year though.
Scoop Malinowski · July 29, 2014 at 7:55 am
Bryan, Sock’s forehand has been compared to Nadal’s, by even such an astute observer as Daniel Nestor. Sock has a big serve too. Plus he now has the physicality and confidence in his fitness. Working daily with Isner will also benefit Sock. I see Sock taking off right about now.
Dan Markowitz · July 29, 2014 at 8:28 am
There’s a couple of big problems in Sock’s game, Scoop, that will always prevent him from being a Top-10 player. Number 1 is he’s not too quick out there even though he’s not that tall. So you can run him. Number 2 by running around so many backhands, you expose yourself to players hitting down the line backhands. Hewitt absolutely annihilated Sock with that shot in Newport. Number 3, even though he won Wimby doubles, he’s not a great forecourt player. With his serve, you’d like to see him serve and volley once in a while and he doesn’t.
Lastly, I don’t think he has the makeup to be a top player. You saw him at Newport, talking to fans, joking around a lot. I don’t love his demeanor out there. It’s far from a Roddick, Agassi, Sampras or even a Dimitrov.
Scoop Malinowski · July 29, 2014 at 8:33 am
Sock is fiery too. He yelled the big come ons in ATL. He likes to have fun and be loose, even during matches against lesser opposition, which I guess he feels he should dominate. SOme might say that’s disrespectful to the opponent, but you could also say he’s his own man, he wants to have fun (it is a game we tend to forget) and he cares about entertaining the gallery. I like that he does chat with fans. He’s a pretty big guy and he moves well, not great but well. Did you notice he has been doing the jumping forehand blast shot? Like the reverse of the Rios Chang jumping two hander? I have never seen a player do the jumping forehand shot before. Sock actually might have invented it. Actually, I did see Sock try serve and volley vs. Lacko. He’s a good volleyer. Come on, you don’t win Wimbledon doubles without being somewhat handy at net.
Scoop Malinowski · July 29, 2014 at 8:34 am
Men’s Singles – First Round
[Q] R Ginepri (USA) d A Falla (COL) 64 62
[Q] R Ram (USA) d [Q] J Donaldson (USA) 67(1) 64 75
L Lacko (SVK) d [WC] F Peliwo (CAN) 75 63
T Smyczek (USA) d [Q] A Kuznetsov (USA) 63 60
E Donskoy (RUS) d [WC] F Tiafoe (USA) 64 64
M Jaziri (TUN) d S Stakhovsky (UKR) 76(2) 64
B Tomic (AUS) d A Gonzalez (COL) 63 62
D Young (USA) d [Q] Y Sugita (JPN) 64 46 64
B Paire (FRA) d F Dancevic (CAN) 64 60
M Matosevic (AUS) d [Q] I Marchenko (UKR) 64 75
Women’s Singles – First Round
[WC] S Rogers (USA) d [3] A Cornet (FRA) 75 46 64
[6] S Kuznetsova (RUS) d P Hercog (SLO) 63 62
K Nara (JPN) d [7] M Keys (USA) 75 63
[8] S Cirstea (ROU) d K Bertens (NED) 64 46 63
[Q] T Townsend (USA) d J Goerges (GER) 36 62 63
Z Diyas (KAZ) d [Q] T Black (USA) 64 60
V King (USA) d [WC] F Abanda (CAN) 62 60
[Q] H Kuwata (JPN) d A Riske (USA) 60 75
(A pretty good day for the Japanese girls taking down a couple of American hot shots.)
Scoop Malinowski · July 29, 2014 at 10:24 am
JG and bjk, text me if you want to meet up if you are at Citi Open today, would love to meet you. 20l 2l8 08ll. JG I can hit tomorrow, need one more day for sore Achilles.
Dan Markowitz · July 29, 2014 at 12:53 pm
You calling Riske a “hot shot?”
Andrew Miller · July 29, 2014 at 5:27 pm
Sock is a very underrated strategist out there. Backhand is among worst in top hundred atp players worse even than roddick before roddick improved it considerably (see 2009 and 2010 ). He has a good tennis mind and very poor movement especially on bh side.
Hewitt is expert at striking opponents where weakest. Did it to klahn and sock. If hewitt can do it likely others in top fifty will go after it. So sock is playing good ball but put it in perspective: it is best he has played and most consistently too but still we are far from him being able yo compensate for some bad habits in his game. For what it is worth sock has played himself into the number two spot in the davis cup lineup but even that is not a given.