Tennis Prose




Mar/15

17

Jack Sock Has the Hunger Now

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We may be witnessing the emergence of the next American tennis titan. Jack Sock is blasting his forehand through the Indian Wells draw, bombarding Roberto Batista Agut today for a slot in the fourth round, in his first tournament of the year.

This is by far Sock’s best result in singles. By far.

The foundation was always there for Sock, the big serve, the bigger forehand, the easy going cool on the court. Now he seems to have added the dynamic energy and passion which was mysteriously inconsistent. Perhaps a greater desire has been inspired now after the illness of his dear brother Eric.

Maybe it’s the feeling of winning, which is sparking his appetite, hunger and confidence to accomplish more of that wonderful, joyful sensation of winning.

Perhaps it’s the new fitness levels he has evidently achieved, as noted by Jim Courier. Sock is moving around the court like an American raging bull, with a forehand even mightier than Rafa’s, according to an RPM stat noted by Tennis Channel.

Is that possible? Sock has a more explosive forehand than Rafa?

Well, if it is possible, it will be very interesting to see how Roger Federer deals with that forehand in the next round, if Federer can defeat Andreas Seppi tonight in their big rematch.

Jack Sock looks like he’s on the verge of emerging into a singles superstar.

We’ve seen him do it in doubles – last year at Wimbedon – now he’s doing it in singles.

Sock quotes:

“Obviously I had a lot of time off.”

“I’m playing with a lot of motivation and inspiration now.”

“Play free, play aggressive, play my game, see what happens.”

“If I play my game and use my strengths well I feel I can beat anybody.”

“So happy and excited it’s hard to describe.”

“The trust in my body, maybe in the past I said to myself I have to conserve energy here and there. Now I have the confidence in my body to play the whole match the way I want to.”

“He’s (Isner) actually helped me a tremendous amount. He’s given me little advice here and there. How to go about and carry yourself on the Tour. He’s helped me out in a lot of ways.”

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28 comments

  • Gaurang · March 17, 2015 at 8:13 pm

    Yes, that looks impressive. Note that after the end of this tournament, there will be four Americans consecutive in the rankings. Querrey, Johnson, Young and Sock — from around 42-45. Though all 4’s peak rankings are higher, it looks like these guys are playing well, and should be able to climb into the 30s together.

    I just saw few parts of Young vs Nadal match. Young was playing like a top 5 player for some points, and for others he was playing like a 500-rank player. He was climbing back and forth into and back out of greatness continuously, switching virtually every point. I think he can be helped a lot by mental training. He needs to be focussed on every point, and try to get his best out on every point instead of just some points. If he can do that, he can go places.

  • Gaurang · March 17, 2015 at 8:14 pm

    3 of these quartet of players lost to top 10 players. Young to Nadal, Sock to Federer (in the next round), and Johnson to Berdych. Only Querrey had a disappointing loss to a tier 3 player.

  • Dan Markowitz · March 17, 2015 at 8:48 pm

    It’s a nice win for Sock, but really, who’s Agut? What big wins has he had. Sock has had a nice tourney so far, but I wouldn’t go too far in predicting great things from him because he almost lost to 2 Tier-3 players in Lu and Mueller.

    Rafa could not serve to save his life and DY couldn’t capitalize today. Dy is what he is, a nice player, but he’s not a top guy or going to be a top guy. He said out in Indian Wells that a friend told him that when he turned 25 he’d start understanding things and have a new level of maturity and DY has said that is what’s happened. But while it’s clearly good against the Chardy’s of the tour, it’s not nearly good enough against the top guys.

    Let’s see if Sock can pressure Fed.

  • Andrew Miller · March 17, 2015 at 8:58 pm

    Agut is good, solid – Sock won against a strong and beatale opponent. Johnson vs the AO semifinalist or dy vs Nadal or Harry Nishikori were all a higher order or difficulty, but that is tennis…sometimes you get Baustista Agut, and like G said sometimes you get Federer next round. All those guys even Berdych are at a higher level of performance and can sustain their best tennis for longer stretches and smash their opponents during the opponents weaker stretches of a match.

    That said good to see them compete at a home masters – this is a lot better showing than most of the time when it is Isner and no one else. They should play some inspired tennis this year.

    As for the top five vs top 500…that goes for most u.s. players not named quisner. Some of them got some sports psychologist training and it has helped a lot, this is a better showing and may even be respectable if they put in the same for miami, they are positioned to do it so why not. As nadal says…best thing to do is “improve”.

  • Andrew Miller · March 17, 2015 at 9:00 pm

    As for Sock, anyone comment on his backhand? How is his movement to that side? I havent seen him.hit a good one for a while.

  • Dan Markowitz · March 17, 2015 at 10:09 pm

    I saw him hit a good one late in third set passing an on rushing Mueller. Also saw him flub one. I know Vince doesn’t like his motion on the forehand. He thinks there’s too much of it. Sock is battling and he has that one-two punch like the early Roddick. I’ve never thought Agut was that good so I want to see how Sock does against a t player.

  • loreley · March 18, 2015 at 4:10 am

    Isn’t Sock still a bit too heavy?

    Lu, Muller & RBA are tricky players. But RBA hardly defeated a good player yet, unless they were injured.

    But’s an impressive comeback from Sock. He was already on a good way before his injury.

    Scoop talked about Berdych playing better in DC. I think Berdych would have a better chance to win the big matches, if he had crowd support like Sock in US.

  • Scoop Malinowski · March 18, 2015 at 8:42 am

    Sock knows how to fire up fans and get them excited, pumps fists, smiles, talks to fans during match. Berdych plays like a machine on business assignment, too mechanical, too self involved. Sock is on his way.

  • Scoop Malinowski · March 18, 2015 at 8:43 am

    Agut is the 15th seed, he must be doing something right.

  • Scoop Malinowski · March 18, 2015 at 8:44 am

    Andrew, Sock can strike some crowd wowing backhand passing shots when he needs it. I think it has the potential to be a Rafa caliber backhand. I think it’s better than Roddick’s.

  • Scoop Malinowski · March 18, 2015 at 8:45 am

    I saw Agut just dismantle Janowicz in Miami last year, just dominated him. Agut is a tough strong player. Wins titles. Tough player.

  • Scoop Malinowski · March 18, 2015 at 8:49 am

    Gaurang, DY used a sports psychologist. When we did a Biofile last year he said his mental coach suggested his last book read, a certain psychology book. But like Mike Tyson said, all your plans go out the window after you get hit. When Rafa starts hitting his best forehands at you, plans go awry and it’s easy to lose focus.

  • Dan Markowitz · March 18, 2015 at 10:01 am

    Scoop, Gulbis was the 14th seed, how well is he playing? Janowicz is totally shot. There’s something wrong with that dude. If you’re losing to Diego Schwartzman at IW, you’re not a player to be feared. And Agut, the only Top 20 players he’s beaten in 14-15 have been Gulbis, Janowicz and Fognini, besides Delpo and Berdych last year at IW. So really, besides the Berdych win, because Delpo was probably hurt, Agut has not beaten any good player in the Top 20.

  • Scoop Malinowski · March 18, 2015 at 10:09 am

    The big test for Sock will be Federer. This match will be a measuring stick. I believe the big upset is possible. Yep, I said it.

  • bjk · March 18, 2015 at 9:21 pm

    Sock has the hunger for an extra order of fries and a coke. He’s getting bigger and slower. It’s a problem.

  • Scoop Malinowski · March 18, 2015 at 9:35 pm

    Sock is very fit, been working hard. Not sure about the diet but fitness wise he’s strong, moving well. Courier said his footspeed is his third big weapon. Fed just crushed him today with his serve. Sock’s returns fed right into Fed’s game and he couldn’t hurt him with any returns. Courier said it’s his grips. Good exp. for Sock, he played a strong first set.

  • Andrew Miller · March 18, 2015 at 10:18 pm

    Odesnik: 15 yr ban started.

  • Coachskelly · March 19, 2015 at 9:00 am

    Hey Scoop!Unless Sock makes some serious technical changes on his forehand he has as much chance of being a singles superstar as you do of winning our singles match this summer!Aint gonna happen!Its a big bluff shot just like Roddixks FH was!If I was coaching a player against Sock I would have them hit so many balls to his Forehand that Sock would be begging for a backhand!! Federer exposed it for what it is!Wasnt by accident
    Either!!Im not gonna share what he needs to do but right now his FH it’s just a bluff!!!

  • Scoop Malinowski · March 19, 2015 at 9:24 am

    Coach Skelly is winning the psyche warfare aspect of our big showdown next summer in Wash DC, he has attempted psyche outs with texts and now he’s invaded tennis-prose with more psyche out moves. I’m becoming worried. I may have to hire Spadea Senior to my team. As for Sock, no way that fearhand is a bluff. Ask the Bryan Brothers how much that fearhand winner on match point of the Wimbledon final was!

  • Dan Markowitz · March 19, 2015 at 9:26 am

    Spadea also says he doesn’t like Sock’s forehand. It reminds him of Roddick’s.

  • Scoop Malinowski · March 19, 2015 at 10:09 am

    How many people didn’t like F Lopez’s backhand? Now F-Lo is a couple of match wins from the top ten. What was Vince’s overall record vs. Roddick’s forehand? I’d guess it was well below .500. How many people didn’t like the Gulbis forehand? Which almost got him to the top ten and did get him into the French Open semis.

  • loreley · March 19, 2015 at 11:47 am

    Gulbis was in the top-10 after Roland Garros for some weeks.

    https://twitter.com/jessica4stein/status/577562725062053888

  • Scoop Malinowski · March 19, 2015 at 4:14 pm

    Nothing gets by Loreley, thanks for the correction that Gulbis did indeed crack the top ten.

  • Bryan · March 22, 2015 at 3:02 am

    OK, so Jack and Pospi can win doubles and could even become a dominant doubles team. Let’s see them transfer that to singles. Neither has done much in awhile and both have abundant talent.

  • Bryan · March 22, 2015 at 3:07 am

    “How many people didn’t like F Lopez’s backhand? Now F-Lo is a couple of match wins from the top ten. How many people didn’t like the Gulbis forehand? Which almost got him to the top ten and did get him into the French Open semis.”

    Difference is Lopez only has a backhand slice so any fit top 10-20 guy can just bang at his forehand until he breaks. Gulbis’ forehand looks wonky, but it’s actually a powerful weapon.

    Lopez could break top 10 during clay season but will revert to form soon. He’s a solid top 30 guy, not top 10.

  • Scoop Malinowski · March 22, 2015 at 6:42 am

    Lopez could also keep on flying higher – top 5? We’ve seen crazier things happen in tennis. Anything is possible. He beat Kei – that’s top 5 tennis right there.

  • Andrew Miller · March 22, 2015 at 8:47 am

    Lopez could make wtf. Never know. Sock forehand is fine. Backhand is not even a rally shot. But desire can make up for a weakness. Tennis is as much how hou execute your game as what your opponent does to execute their game. Sock also likes clay where funky shots seize the day, you can run around that sorry backhand alls day.

  • Andrew Miller · March 22, 2015 at 8:50 am

    Vince sounds like a coach. You know you can only make cracks from the sideline for so long before you actually have to get back into the game and show how it is done either as a coach or player. Vince is playing the critic role nicely but as far as i know he isnt an announcer or coach for any tour players. Just saying…it isnt the critic that counts. At some point you have to reenter the arena.

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