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Apr/16

10

Jack Sock Puts On Show In Defeat In Houston

P1010929Jack Sock is an extraordinary player who has a natural aptitude for showmanship and sizzle. He won the first set today in the Houston final against Juan ‘Pico’ Monaco but became annoyed and lost his grip of the match in the second set. Pico calculated the set break as the right time to call a medical timeout for his supposedly ailing back. Sock fell behind in the second set and let it be known that he felt the back injury was a fake by gesturing that his own back was hurting after points and also mumbling to the chair ump and the crowd about it. It seemed to distract Sock from the business at hand and Pico kept battling with his fierce intensity. One thing I have noticed is that Sock enjoys to create these sideshow dramas and express different emotions while he battles. It seems to be his natural outlet to deal with the stress and tension of a high pressure match.

Sock then concocted a show that his own arm was suddenly hurting and called for a timeout. But the delay didn’t bother Pico who maintained his lead and eventually won the second set. Pico broke Jack early and rolled to a 4-1 lead in the third. The still annoyed Sock then concocted that his neck was hurting and got another break and massage by the physio. Suddenly Sock found his A game and got the two breaks back for 4-4. But the show wasn’t nearly over yet: Sock suddenly seemed to feel the new pressure about closing the successful defense of the Houston red clay title and fell behind in the 4-4 game and so he began expressing gestures of extreme fatigue and or illness by bending over. When Sock wants to ham it up he has a catalog of gestures and expressions he likes to play – the headshakes – the smiles – the muttering to his box – it’s The Jack Sock J Sizzle Show. It’s riveting to watch and the furthest thing from boring. Sock was also in entertainer mode vs his buddy Isner in the semifinal with his chatting with the crowd and smiling and joking like it was an exo – meanwhile Isner played with dead seriousness.

Like Isner, Pico was oblivious to it all (or refused to be bothered but it) but at the 4-4 game he suddenly locked in and raised his intensity and urgency by bouncing on his feet and also gesturing emphatically to his own box. Pico changed gears and was now desperate. As Sock was busy showing that he wasn’t feeling well, Pico was fighting like his life and career and Roland Garros direct entry was on the line (which it was). Sock slapped a few quick winners but he was obligated (if indeed he was counter faking injury) to play out the illusion he wasn’t feeling well he couldn’t fight it out with Pico and grind out long points. We have seen Sock wilt under the pressure and the heat before, but wait, it wasn’t hot at all in Houston today.

I’m going to speculate and theorize here: Sock is a natural born showman who would prefer to play and win a match under conditions and terms he orchestrates. You wonder how much more successful would Sock be if he eliminated all his natural inclinations, tendencies and habits and just transformed himself into a focused beast gladiator like a Ferrer, Hewitt or Nadal? But that is not the nature of Sock at this point and it wouldn’t be much fun considering how he prefers to compete. Sock is his own unique personality who likes to play tennis on his own terms and generate a drama show out of a regular old basic tennis match. And he has a truly special and remarkable ability to do that. Bill Tilden once said the tennis player has an obligation and duty to entertain the gallery. Win or lose, Jack Sock is exactly that type of player.

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32 comments

  • s · April 10, 2016 at 10:52 pm

    We got trouble here in River City (Music Man midwestern stuff, etc).

    Also, Scoop, I was really disappointed in your equal pay post stuff, so much so that I’m going to type that it made me make a sad face rather than type an actual emoticon. I AM SO SAD AT YOU.

  • Dan Markowitz · April 10, 2016 at 11:41 pm

    Just watched the third set of Monaco-Sock and that Houston event is intriguing. Its main stadium reminds me of Newport on clay. But Sock can’t go far with that backhand. It’s too hit and miss and while every other part of his game, his massive forehand, pulsing serve and court movement are either all very good or excellent, clay is his best surface and against the top clay players in the world (which Monaco is not one of anymore), Sock doesn’t stand a chance.

    It’s unfortunate Sock cramped again the way he did at the Open 2 sets to 1 up on Bemelmans, but the guy obviously has to deal with this problem if he’s going to be in contention for a hot slam like the Open or Aussie O.

    How’s this for a rule change? Seeing Sock crouch with cramps and going for towel every single point of the 3rd set, no more towels! You can’t use a towel during a game only on changeovers. I know Chris Mayotte would like to see a big “whack-a-thinga-majingy on the court where each player twice a set would be able to come over and just whack it with their racquet to get their anger out. I’d like to see a “No Towel” during game rule.

  • catherine bell · April 11, 2016 at 4:41 am

    Not sure if I agree with Tilden totally, though as I believe he was something of a would be actor/playwrite his point of view is understandable.

    Entertainment plus skill is the ideal I suppose – but sometimes we have to put up with just the skill. Eg ?

    Reminds me of an incident at the US Open in the 80s when Tim Wilkinson, playing Boris B, spent a lot of time prancing around and acting up, in the cause, he said later ‘ of more colourful personalities in tennis’.
    Martina N squashed this one: ‘winning is what you do with your shots, not what you do between points’, ie. if you don’t win no one’s going to look at you anyway,colourful or no.

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 11, 2016 at 8:01 am

    S: I just believe Mens tennis is the Main attraction in tennis and the WTA is a good prelim which piggybacks off of Fed Rafa and Djokovic – I truly enjoy WTA tennis but not nearly as much as watching the mens and of all the people I know who love tennis 99% feel the same – I do enjoy womens doubles equally to mens doubles – but the singles no I just can’t say that I do – But I do feel the womens soccer deserves higher pay from USA Soccer than the mens because they are the far more accomplished – I say this taking into consideration that womens soccer gets higher TV ratings and fan attendance at live games – Thanks for your comments and welcome to the site S —

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 11, 2016 at 8:04 am

    Dan: The tennis towel gets more TV time than All Pro NFL linemen and major league baseball players in the bullpen and designated hitters and the backup goalie in the NHL – it’s become ridiculous what a huge role the towel plays in pro tennis matches – every single point both players point their finger and use the towel for like a second – I recently watched Rios vs Agassi in 98 in miami and neither player used the towel at all until Agassi went to the towel late in the first set and it was a hot day in Key Biscayne – I wonder who started this finger point to the towel trend which has taken over tennis – was it Agassi? Rafter? Safin? Every doggone point the towel comes into play – funny thing is the women don’t use it nearly as much –

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 11, 2016 at 8:09 am

    True Catherine but I think Big Bill meant that the champions have to give the gallery more than just winning tennis – Sock is a winner – his ranking is top 25 and he’s a Wimbledon champion forever – that’s as high as it gets – I thoroughly enjoy watching Sock’s carnival of emotions and expressions – he livens up the show and that’s a great thing for tennis –

  • Andrew Miller · April 11, 2016 at 10:08 am

    Sock gets sick in Finals. 2x this year.
    Maybe he should borrow the page entitled “Oxygen Pods” from Djokovic’s playbook and do the oxygen thing between matches so he’s not crumbling in his early twenties during small-level ATP tournament finals.

    No doubt about it, Sock’s backhand sucks.

    It’s worse than Roddick’s and has been since day 1 on the tour. If we paired his competitiveness with a reliable backhand he might be top 15 by now and maybe even assume his rightful place as #1 U.S. player for the moment.

    Sock’s done well to lock up a spot in the top 25 and make things interesting at tournaments that prop up his ranking. A transition to anything better at this point is wishful thinking and with his technical issues he’s looking destined for Gulbis-land.

  • catherine bell · April 11, 2016 at 10:23 am

    Scoop –

    Playwright ? 🙂

    I think it’s a personality thing isn’t it ? Some players just have that ability to link with spectators and some not so much.

    I imagine Martina meant that it’s a bit pointless, and maybe fatally distracting, to try to assume a role which doesn’t come naturally.

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 11, 2016 at 10:34 am

    Didn’t look sick at all during award presentation after – I think the pressure and stress and fear of unknown is what caused Sock to feel ill – just like Sock said the neck pain suddenly came out of nowhere – the arm injury was also curious – like Gil Clancy said on CBS during boxing – the boxer said he was in the best shape of his life and in round three he’s tired – he’s tired because he can use that excuse for losing – I lost because I was tired not because the other fighter was superior – I think Sock plays this tactic – he lost because he was ill and tired not because Pico was better – that’s an illusion –

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 11, 2016 at 10:37 am

    Yes Catherine I think Sock is a great player and also a choreographer on the court / he creates these shows which are very entertaining to watch and anything but boring – next step is he has to start winning these episodes instead of falling short at the end – I think he will eventually –

  • Andrew Miller · April 11, 2016 at 11:22 am

    I’ve always appreciated Sock’s competitiveness during matches. I just find he puts his “best” out there at small tournaments and doesn’t prepare adequately for big ones.

    His performance this year as the Masters and in Australia and in Davis Cup was “nothing to write home about”. Sock must have a “thing” with the big tournaments – the pressure he passes off as laughter during Houston and other small tournaments is clearly something he has a problem with at the big events.

    That and his backhand is horrible.

    Sock’s done well for himself in getting well inside the top 25. He’s not good when he’s either (a) expected to do better or (b) under a more intense pressure.

    I think it’s his final hurdle on tour. If he can handle the pressure he might have a nice breakout result. I give up on his backhand, it’s a wasteland.

  • Andrew Miller · April 11, 2016 at 11:28 am

    “U.S. players boycott Monte Carlo” – in a stunning development, no U.S. mens player is in Monte Carlo. However, there are several reliable substitutes.

    1) Tommy Haas is playing. He is a U.S. citizen.

    2) Milos Raonic is playing. Given Milos is from Canada by way of Montenegro, and he can dunk, I think he is more or less a U.S. player.

  • Ryan Balon · April 11, 2016 at 11:42 am

    I don’t see Haas playing in either singles or doubles in Monte Carlo……

    Sock like the other America players he came up with is just average and can’t really do any damage in a masters 500, 1000 or grand slam.

    The Americans behind him particularly Fitz and maybe Tiafoe are the real deal and hopefully will be making a push come the summer hard court season maybe even the grass…..

    Sock always looks at his box and gives a sarcastic smile when things get tight which in my opinion shows he can’t handle the pressure on the big stage.

    like Isner most of his ATP tour titles will come in 250 events which is still tough but not how you want to build your resume on the pro tour

  • Andrew Miller · April 11, 2016 at 12:58 pm

    When a U.S. player wins a Masters, it will be huge. We haven’t had one in the states since Roddick in 2010.
    Here’s the “rankings” for U.S. players today in the top 100.

    Based on ranking, Isner’s the best shot to win a Masters and make a slam quarter. Based on current form, I don’t think anyone’s heading in that direction anytime soon.

    #15 Isner
    #27 Sock
    #32 Johnson
    #39 Querrey
    #57 Ram
    #59 Kudla
    #69 Fritz
    #83 DY

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 11, 2016 at 5:07 pm

    I’ve seen Sock belt some quality backhands so it’s not a deficiency – it looks good it has pop – I’d say it looks better than Roddick’s – It looks like it can be serviceable like Nadal’s – it’s right on the edge of being a very good backhand –

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 11, 2016 at 5:08 pm

    It’s odd why so many US players skip monte carlo – just play it – it’s such a historic and beautiful event – if I had the ranking I’d play all those clay masters series – try to gobble up as many points as possible – just don’t understand why so many players bypass monte carlo –

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 11, 2016 at 5:13 pm

    Ryan: I agree it’s something about extra pressure situations that makes Sock behave differently and or oddly – he handled it well vs Isner but it started to unravel after he won the first set and Pico called the trainer for his back – Sock lost his tiger eye and started moaning about the delay – it created a negativity in his mind which hampered his game – I guess certain players are vulnerable to fake injuries or medical timeouts than others –

  • Hartt · April 11, 2016 at 5:58 pm

    Andrew Miller, You cannot claim Raonic as a US player. We Canucks have only 2 guys in the top 100 – there are several American players there. We need Milos! 🙂

  • Andrew Miller · April 11, 2016 at 7:44 pm

    We got Jesse Levine from you guys and Carling Bassett became a Seguso. We can and will get Milos!

  • Andrew Miller · April 11, 2016 at 7:46 pm

    Nadal backhand is awesome! Socks is not. To me it is pitiable.

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 11, 2016 at 8:38 pm

    Sock’s can be Andrew it can be – speaking of US players they are 0-5 at Sarasota Open today – Noah Rubin did beat #59 Kudla 76 in the third and 8-6 in the breaker – that’s a huge win for Rubin because Kudla is playing really well – I saw Kudla give Raonic a battle in miami – Poor Donaldson got thumped by Kicker 6162 and Harrison lost to Clezar in straight sets – Harry now has fallen into the 200s – Youch – It’s absolutely befuddling because Harrison has been playing so well this year but he just can’t win many matches – and he’s lost some very very close heartbreakers – Playing so well moving so well but losing losing losing and ranking falling – Tennis is such a cruel and mysterious sport –

  • Rob · April 11, 2016 at 9:05 pm

    I am also Canadian but wanted to throw this out there. First, I could be completely wrong as I have not been able to find the numbers and adding them myself is too much work but isn t the USA the greatest tennis powerhouse at the moment. The Stetes has more male, female and doubles players in the top 500 than any other country – ergo: powerhouse.

    Right?

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 11, 2016 at 9:08 pm

    Good question Rob – you could be right – Dan will get right on doing that stat calculation 🙂

  • Dan Markowitz · April 12, 2016 at 3:43 am

    Ryan, way down on Sock, but very high on Coric, who suffered a bad loss in the finals of Morocco, getting thumped by Delbonis 2 and 4. Coric at 19 is now no. 42, but he’s had an oddly sub-par year, only 11-10 in 2016, and his best showing was in his first tournament in Chennai.

    I like watching Sock, he has charisma and he reminds me in looks of Mickey Mantle. He can really blast his backhand, but he doesn’t hit it with much shape (which by the way is the same problem Greg Anderson, Kevin’s brother, thinks my son has on his forehand. Callum can blast the shoulder high forehand particularly when he has both feet inside the baseline, but he has trouble playing defense or grinding and using his legs, Greg says, to propel him up into the ball. He’s a good baseball player and Greg thinks the hitting motion in baseball will hurt his tennis hitting motion because in baseball you don’t use your legs to lift up into the ball. Has anyone known any really good baseball-tennis player combos growing up? I know Spadea played Little League ball, but I’m sure he played much more tennis than baseball).

    Donaldson is really having his problems. I wonder how long Taylor Dent will remain his coach. Zverev easily handled his Russian compatriot, who’s six months younger and like 100 ranking spots behind Zverev, Rublev, in Monte Carlo.

  • Jg · April 12, 2016 at 6:27 am

    Dan, didn’t Jim Courier play some baseball?

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 12, 2016 at 8:41 am

    Dan: Courier said he played a lot of little league baseball and was one of the best players in FL but he (if I recall correctly) no 2 or 3 in the state of FL in tennis so he stuck with tennis – how the heck can you be “way down” on Sock? Did you see his win over Isner? Never ever easy to beat Isner – Sock is already way ahead of Spadea’s career –

  • Dan Markowitz · April 12, 2016 at 9:45 am

    It’s funny, this proclamation by Greg Anderson had me thinking last night and I came up this morning before I saw JG’s or your Courier mention to see if I could reach Courier and see what he thought about whether a baseball swing could hurt a tennis stroke. Anderson talked about neurons in your brain and if you swing one way too much, too often, there gets to be a point that you can’t change your stroke pattern and your basically screwed.

    He wants Callum to practice without hitting a ball just firing off the outside right foot on his forehand and almost leaping into the air swing out and up. He needs to get more shape on his forehand because he blasts almost everything.

  • Dan Markowitz · April 12, 2016 at 9:58 am

    Interesting, here’s a piece back in the NY Times that disputes the theory that the baseball hitter’s swing would hurt your golf swing. I don’t play golf, but I’ve heard golfers who play tennis say that the drive is very similar to the forehand drive.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/02/sports/golf/02pennington.html?_r=0

  • catherine bell · April 12, 2016 at 10:04 am

    I’ve seen photos of players hitting a twohanded backhand where the follow through looks exactly like a text book cover drive in cricket. (what’s cricket ? 🙂 )
    It’s not so apparent in live action

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 12, 2016 at 10:23 am

    Courier turned out to be the world no 1 – and didn’t Don Budge or Bill Tidlen go into seclusion in Rhode Island for a winter and totally change his backhand? Perhaps Cal could benefit by working on hitting different forehands with different grips and spins – sounds like his forehand is too one dimensional and predictable – he can easily gain extra feel by hitting forehand slices or drills where he mixes up and hits three different alternating shots – first flat then second heavy top spin then third slice – I think this drill would broaden his forehand options in a week –

  • Andrew Miller · April 12, 2016 at 12:17 pm

    Down on Coric. Watch his 1st rounder in Australia. It’s a 100 percent tank job.

    That’s why I say it’s the worst thing to watch a player quit on themself in a match and lose points on purpose. Coric was hitting the ball into the net on purpose. You could tell Coric could hit any shot he wanted, and he wanted to hit it into the net.

    Granted, that was a hot day. But we’re talking Australia here – it’s always hot in Melbourne during the Australian Open. So it was inexcusable.

    Kudla’s opponent that day was also spraying balls, but not on purpose. He seemed to be hallucinating out there and Kudla just kept the ball in play, knowing his opponent couldn’t handle the weather.

    Scoop, Sock’s backhand is terrible. We’re talking Elena Dementieva-serve terrible.

  • Dan Markowitz · April 12, 2016 at 1:34 pm

    So what I heard talking to a handful of tennis teaching pros this morning is they think Cal is a good enough athlete to differentiate between hitting a baseball and a tennis ball. He will know that when he steps on a baseball diamond, his swing is more high to low hitting through the ball and the opposite applies to his tennis stroke. One pro said it’d be different if Cal were a baseball player first and then switched to tennis, but he learned both sports/swings simultaneously so he thinks he will be able to make the distinction when he plays both sports.

    Thanks, Scoop, I do like that drill of having him hit a rally ball with more spin and depth, a winning forehand with more speed and possible angle and a slice forehand.

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