Tennis Prose




Mar/17

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Jack Sock Ready For Third Rumble with Rafael Nadal

Jack Sock pounded his way to a fourth round showdown with Rafa Nadal by routing young American qualifier Jared Donaldson in straight sets. Though there were only four journalist at Sock’s main interview room post match press conference (three journos from US) Sock fielded several questions regarding his seemingly inevitable major breakout win against a Big Four-Big Five colossus (though he did beat Nishikori in Indian Wells last week). Yeah, Sock sounds absolutely reader willing and eager to lumberjack Nadal back to Spain. Take a look at Sock’s pre-match confidence.

Q. How good did you actually feel on the court?
JACK SOCK: Felt pretty good. Feel pretty good now to get through in, you know, an hour. Go out and play some doubles this afternoon, have some fun, and get ready for tomorrow, no matter who I play.

Yeah, I was going out and taking cuts on returns. I don’t think he had his best first serve serving day, but I was going to definitely step up to most second serves – like do with a lot of people, but especially today – and try to make him feel under pressure with that.

I think it paid off. In the second set he threw in some double faults at some crucial times.

Q. Obviously the more matches you win the more you’re going to gain in confidence. Have you ever in your career felt as confident as you’re feeling right now with two titles and this run you’ve had over the last two Masters 1000s?
JACK SOCK: Definitely not. I mean, yeah, the more matches you win the better you feel, the more confident you are.

But whenever you can win titles and play deep into draws — you know, my first semi last week; back it up in a quarter so far this week; hopefully keep progressing. Yeah, physically, mentally never felt better or stronger, so just excited for the rest of the year.

Q. Talk about Facing Nadal?
JACK SOCK: If he does win, I will definitely be looking forward to it, be excited for the battle.

We played in Beijing couple years ago as well. Lost in three sets. Actually had a decent amount of chances there in the third. Might have even been up a break early or had a lot of break points early in the third.

Yeah, I played in his backyard a few years ago, the French. He felt very comfortable will. I think we’re both comfortable on clay or hard. Yeah, either way should be a good battle; should be fun.

I’ll definitely give myself a lot more chance to win this time around than maybe I did a few years ago. I’m 24 years old now and been on tour for a while. I’m playing these matches and hoping I can win and going in believing I can win for sure.

So if he does get through, yeah, I’ll be ready to go tomorrow.

Q. Is there anything in particular that you’re doing in the last six months that’s different, or does it really come down to confidence? Is there something that you changed? Because you are on quite a roll right now.
JACK SOCK: I mean, mentally I think it’s a big part of it. I’ve been trying let things go that happen on court, the adversity, things that are going on. Whether a guy hits a lucky shot or crazy shot or gets on a roll and gets some momentum, just put it aside and focus on the next point in the future.

Just controlling what I can control out there. Not many of those I can control. I can’t obviously control things that happen on the other side of net all the time.

Yeah, putting things aside and keeping a clear mind and just battling.

Q. Is there somebody who told you to do that? Was it something you read? You just figured that out on your own? Someone give you that advice?
JACK SOCK: Obviously my team has been telling me that for a while. It’s a little bit different when you’re out there and things maybe aren’t going your way or something. It’s easy to get frustrated. Over time and experience and years on tour, I think I’ve definitely helped that.

Q. (my question) You’re obviously really close to beating those top guys. Do you think you’re ready to do it right now, or do you think you might need a little extra advice from maybe some kind of coach who really knows exactly what it takes to beat those guys?
JACK SOCK: I think it’s there. I’ve had chances in the past against some of those guys. No, I don’t think I need any more time. I think I’m ready to beat them.

I think it takes a great match obviously on my end. That’s where their experience kicks in. What I’m trying to do with some of the younger guys now, they’ve been doing it for ten plus years now – a lot of them.

Experience definitely is an advantage for them in some of those situations were tennis-wise I think I’m definitely ready to beat them.

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118 comments

  • Dan Markowitz · March 29, 2017 at 7:31 am

    Sock v Nadal is definitely one to look forward to tonight, but Fogman v Nishikori 6 hours earlier in the day is also an intriguing match up. I saw some of the Fogman’s straightforward win over DY yesterday and the Italian has some serious wheels. DY is just not up to playing with the varsity. He’s fine against guys like Paire and such, but when he faces a top guy, and let’s face it, while Fogman is a great talent, his career suggests he’s a third-tier player after the top of Fed, Murray etc, the second of Delpo, Nishi, Raonic etc, the third of Tsonga, Cilic etc and then I guess Fogman is like 4th tier. DY is like 5th or 6th tier.

    And at the end of the match, DY pettily refused to shake hands with the umpire and pointed at him like a little punk because the ump in the final game, which Fogman won at like love, didn’t let DY challenge a service winner by Fog after DY had walked pretty much back to the other side of the court to return the next serve. DY is totally wrong.

    Sock says its hard to let go of things that go bad on the court and you can see that. Last night Kyrgios was a bit of desultory sort yelling out “towel” to a a ballboy who was slow to bring him one. Now I know you can get upset with a ball boy who’s slow, and the tension is high, but it looked like Kyrgios and DY were bullies and being petty.

  • Scoop malinowski · March 29, 2017 at 7:46 am

    Dan; Fognini best Nadal sensationally at US Open in five sets. That was a varsity win. Fog is elite but only in flashes so far. Looks fitter now. Could finally be serious. New coach Davin also a smart career decision. Nick is moody and fiery on court. Ballkids have to deal with some guff and stuff. Remember one ballkid told me the usually cool Moya lost and threw a sweaty towel in his face. Players vent.

  • Chazz · March 29, 2017 at 9:07 am

    He sure does sound confident, as he should. When he talks about the mental aspect, I don’t think he’ll have a problem being focused against Nadal. He needs to stay patient with Rafa’s resiliency. Also his first serve needs to be on to give him some free points. He is #15 in the realtime rankings, so a strong finish in Miami might get him closer to the top 10. As much as I’d like Fed to keep winning, it would be great to see Sock, Kyrgios or Zverev win the title.

  • Hartt · March 29, 2017 at 9:40 am

    On a site where I make predictions went out on a limb and said I thought Sock will beat Rafa. It could be an exciting match!

  • Dan Markowitz · March 29, 2017 at 9:44 am

    What happened in Zvervev-Wawa match! 2 and 1 in final two sets. What’s going on with Stan or was Sasha just zoning?

  • catherine bell · March 29, 2017 at 9:53 am

    Hartt –

    Now I know your first name 🙂

  • Hartt · March 29, 2017 at 10:55 am

    Catherine, when tennis.com went to Facebook we all were exposed if we commented. 🙂

    The migrants from Match Call Nation formed their own discussion group and some have their real names there. It is so weird, I still think of them by whatever handle they used to have instead of their actual names.

  • Andrew Miller · March 29, 2017 at 11:40 am

    DY has his issues. Murray wasn’t fun in his pre Lendl and pre Lendl returning days, often going after his box. DY owns Pouille for whatever reason. I don’t see DY as 5th tier, I see him as top fifty who will win his first title this year. Said it for a while, years, when DY is playing well he’s brilliant and looks like a top 40, even top 25 player, and when he’s playing badly he looks like a top 300 player.
    He’s a confidence player.
    Fognini is just a better player. He’s always a top twenty talent in the skills department, like a lazy Nalbandian.

  • Andrew Miller · March 29, 2017 at 11:43 am

    Also have feeling Fognini needs to make enemies to compete. Harrison in a 2014 challenger really taunted someone in the crowd who maybe rooted for his opponent in an annoying way. He used the few obnoxious fans in a sparse and small crowd to fire himself up, and did it.
    Some players feed off the fight. Fognini is one of them, using personal sleights to get himself motivated to win big.

  • Hartt · March 29, 2017 at 11:54 am

    Stan said he was tired in the last 2 sets. Not a good sign from a top player.

  • Chazz · March 29, 2017 at 12:51 pm

    Interesting about Stan. He seemed to be playing so well lately. Yesterday was his 32nd birthday. Maybe too much partying the night before?

  • Scoop malinowski · March 29, 2017 at 12:55 pm

    Zverev is playing lights out. Saved the two match points vs Isner and so now hes on bonus time. Stan seemed into it in first set, glaring at Z after a hold walk to changeover. But AZ stayed the course and raised us level. Nadal has said Zverev can be no 1. Kid has it all and he wants it all. Stan was overwhelmed.

  • Scoop malinowski · March 29, 2017 at 12:57 pm

    Young is like Rios light. Just lacks that firepower on serve and backgand. Fognini has heavyweight thump power in all his shots. And hes very sharp and accurate right now.

  • Hartt · March 29, 2017 at 1:08 pm

    Sascha has it all – talent, commitment, desire, a good work ethic and a supportive family, including his older brother who can give advice if Sascha wants it.

    Both Jez Green and Mischa said that Sascha wants to be better each day than the day before. With that attitude combined with his talent he is a future star.

  • Thomas Tung · March 29, 2017 at 2:12 pm

    Agree with Andrew/Scoop re: DY/Fognini. When Fogs wants to play, he can really fight, as per his win over Nadal at the US Open and generally good record against Rafa (7-3 Nadal, but a lot of 3 setters in best of 3, 7-5 7-5 scores, etc). DY has no real weapons (and there are a good number of players who are smarter tactically than he is, although DY is a genius by US standards, which have declined drastically re: court tactics since the days of Connors/McEnroe, and also Sampras/Agassi/Courier/Chang, in favor of a repeatedly misplaced “blind faith” in sheer athleticism with a veneer of form/structure/discipline).

    Kyrgios: if he put in half the effort of A. Zverev on/off court, he’d BE in the Top 10 already. Truly Mark Philippoussis 2.0.

    A. Zverev: sky’s the limit for him. Definitely a future #1 and multiple Slam winner.

  • Dan Markowitz · March 29, 2017 at 2:20 pm

    Hate to say it, bring in the body issues, but DY has a fat man’s body, he’s an endomorph. Look at his parents, his mother is very heavy and the father is not quite so, but heavy too. I can’t believe DY’s left arm, it’s huge and not so muscularly huge, there’s a good deal of fat too. So I don’t know if it’s a question of really keeping him on a tight rein diet-wise (Fed’s dad is kind of dumpy too), but I don’t think DY has the endurance to be a top player, not that he has the game either.

    I hear what everyone says about Zverev, but if you ask me, and since no one has to ask me on a blog, I can just comment on my own, KG is much more a dynamic and compelling player than the Ruskie/German.

  • Chazz · March 29, 2017 at 3:02 pm

    Thomas, I have to quibble with the Kyrgios to Phillipoussis comparison. He’s only 21. His career will surpass MP’s because his effort is already way beyond where it was last year. I am very much expecting Zverev and Kygrios (and maybe Sock) to be fixtures in the top 5 in a couple years or less.

  • Andrew Miller · March 29, 2017 at 3:16 pm

    I’d say Kyrgios, Zverev, Sock are moving on up to the top ten soon. But Thiem, Raonic remain a quarter step ahead.

  • Scoop malinowski · March 29, 2017 at 3:17 pm

    Read Kyrgios quote about his new mundset in Miami Open Scoops article. Nick is knuckling down and the pair if poundings laid on Djokovic prive Nick is super fit and mentally strong right now.

  • Andrew Miller · March 29, 2017 at 3:19 pm

    Certainly Agassi, Sampras had real strategies, better scouting too. Sock’s strategy is “good”.

  • Scoop malinowski · March 29, 2017 at 3:21 pm

    Just watched Baker Nestor eke into QF by beating Peya Petszchner 10-4 in deathbreaker. Bakerhad bh volley up middle for triple match point at 65 in second but pushed it long. Recovered though to take the deathbreaker with a Nestor overhead closing it out. Nestor is a rare player who wears all white. Young is another though he wears blue shirt for first sets.

  • Hartt · March 29, 2017 at 3:28 pm

    I could only see part of that match. Was very glad that Baker/Nestor won but my question is: Daniel what’s with the white knee socks?

  • Scoop malinowski · March 29, 2017 at 3:29 pm

    Federer finally has a first coach who played and beat the Tour guys Fed plays now. Ljubicic has beaten Murray Rafa Djok etc. None of Feds previoys coaches really knew how to play and beat the current Atp elites like Looby. Perhaps Sock could benefit witha new voice that has this experience like Fish Blake or Roddick. Troy Hahn never played or won an Atp match. Sock can use every edge imaginable because we know how difficult it is to invade the top five club which is highly discriminatory. I do believe Sock has the arsenal and mind to do it but an elite second coach addition would help. As Raonic and Nishikori both proved. And they both use two coaches.

  • Hartt · March 29, 2017 at 3:33 pm

    Crystal ball time: I see a future rivalry between Kyrgios and Sascha Zverev that will be somewhat similar to the Rafa – Fed rivalry with many fans firmly for one guy or the other.

  • Scoop malinowski · March 29, 2017 at 3:46 pm

    Hartt; I was told this week Nick and Zverev are very good friends. Rare to have a rivalry for high stakes and be close friends with that opponent. Will be interesting to see how this friendship evolves.

  • Hartt · March 29, 2017 at 3:51 pm

    Interesting that they are good friends. I knew Sascha and Thiem are buddies. Between sets at a doubles match where they played on opposing teams they hung over the net and chatted. So far Thiem has the best of their h2h, leading 4-1. But of course he is about 3 1/2 years older than Sascha so he has more experience at this point.

  • Hartt · March 29, 2017 at 3:53 pm

    Scoop, did you notice you say Nick and Zverev whereas I am more likely to say Kyrgios and Sascha. An indication of which player each of us prefers?

  • Hartt · March 29, 2017 at 3:58 pm

    Konta just beat Halep in 3 sets, 6-2 in the third. I only saw snatches of the match but was not thrilled by what I did see. Simona had 41 UFEs and 24 winners. Konta had a lot of UFEs as well but I did not catch her stats.

    I had predicted Halep would win (and Kerber this evening). Also Baker/Nestor so at least was right on that one. I thought Makarova/Vesnina would win over Drabowski/Xu, so was wrong there (but glad to be wrong in that case).

  • catherine bell · March 29, 2017 at 4:09 pm

    I think Simona was as bit tired after her match with Stosur and maybe a bit nervous. – I wish I liked Konta’s game more. Tignor has predicted she’ll win the whole thing but I don’t know.
    Simona’s not one for the long haul yet.

    They’ve just started but I still think Venus will beat Angie.

  • Scoop malinowski · March 29, 2017 at 4:19 pm

    Simona had it but blew the second and Cahill tried to pump her up but its hot here and she was deflated and Konta hits bullets. Halep kinda quit and Cahill sensed it and tried to inspire her with a pep talk but Halep didnt have that extra intensity.

  • Scoop malinowski · March 29, 2017 at 4:20 pm

    Baker has had 11 surgeries. Haas 9.

  • catherine bell · March 29, 2017 at 4:22 pm

    I saw some of Simona/Konta – Simona served for the match second set – there were some good points and rather dull comments from Cahill OCC – ‘be an athlete etc’ – what about ‘be a tennis player’ ?. That’s why Johanna won 🙂

  • catherine bell · March 29, 2017 at 4:30 pm

    Scoop –
    Yes I thought Cahill’s comments were off the mark. Didn’t inspire her and Simona simply ran out of puff. She hasn’t the stamina and can finish badly. It seems she quits but it might not be conscious. Kerber improved that part of her own game a lot I think, over last year.

    Cahill’s a good coach technically but I wonder if he’s at the same level on the psych side.

  • Scoop malinowski · March 29, 2017 at 4:54 pm

    Simona is a welterweight. She is quite small. Konta hits like a hwt. Konta looks lethal. Saw her practice early today she was hitting swing volley winners off low lob feeds off both wings. Interesting drill.

  • Scoop malinowski · March 29, 2017 at 5:04 pm

    Fognini up 6451 on Kei. Remember where you heard it first that Fognini was gonna do big things this yr. I reckon Chang Bottini did not scout the new Fog all week and took this win as for granted.

  • Scoop malinowski · March 29, 2017 at 5:23 pm

    Fognini beats Nishikori for first time (1-2) 6462. Tremendous performance by Fognini yet hardly a surprise based on the form he showed vs Souza Chardy and Young. Fognini vs Rafa or Sock QF will be a thriller.

  • Andrew Miller · March 29, 2017 at 7:22 pm

    Fognini plays like a top ten player when he wants to. He may be Rios’ equivalent in attitude. If he cares he’s ridiculously good. If he doesn’t care he doesn’t.

  • Andrew Miller · March 29, 2017 at 7:25 pm

    Simona! Really, this is a bad loss. Konta has an excellent, well timed, versatile backhand. But how did Halep lose this? Konta never impresses me ever. I find her forehand underwhelming, her strategy even less impressive. Seems like a swell person, and she reminds me more than any other player of Meghan Shaughnessy in terms of her game. A competitor for sure but not the most fun.

  • Andrew Miller · March 29, 2017 at 7:38 pm

    Baker among best USA players ive ever seen, especially on the technique side. Maybe Davis Cup for dubs? He and Sock could field a good team, given the Bryans retired from Davis Cup duty to focus on making slam semifinals.
    Just kidding. They still have it and can win a slam again.

  • Thomas Tung · March 29, 2017 at 8:10 pm

    Andrew, woah, Megann Shaughnessy, that’s a name I haven’t heard in ages. ALL hard work and effort, not the most talented, but a feisty competitor. When watching her play, I thought of her as the “female Thomas Enqvist” in playstyle, but lacking Enqvist’s ability to take the ball early, and also lacking his fine return of serve. (Her serve was plenty big, just as his was). Thomas also moved just a bit better, too, in comparison.

  • Scoop malinowski · March 29, 2017 at 8:22 pm

    Konta is Shaughnessu minus the odd ball bounce. Good call. Where oh where is Meghann? I did a biofile with her waaay back when.

  • Scoop malinowski · March 29, 2017 at 8:24 pm

    Dan; young was 2-o vs Fog before today. So Dy is varsity.

  • Andrew Miller · March 29, 2017 at 9:44 pm

    Sock finally gets teeth into the match in the sixth game. So far all Nadal, but Sock starting to talk with himself. Cahill right on the Sock bh, he’s hit some good down the line but the cross court is weak because of the grips. Nadal really picking on it. It’s holding up and holding Sock back at same time.

  • catherine bell · March 29, 2017 at 9:49 pm

    Angie hit her wall v Venus, like I predicted.
    Bad serving let her down, again.

  • Andrew Miller · March 29, 2017 at 10:08 pm

    Venus playing fantastic. Will she get Konta back for her loss last year in California? Venus was overcoming Konta that match then Konta took longest bathroom break I’ve seen in a while, comes back wins it.

  • Andrew Miller · March 29, 2017 at 10:53 pm

    Sock implodes! He was up 2-0 in second and playing so well and then flubbed the backhand volley sitter. Loses the game and five of the next six games, and the match. Nadal powers through. Sock looked like a totally different player then he flubbed it.

  • Thomas Tung · March 29, 2017 at 10:54 pm

    Nadal too solid against Sock; Jack shows that he’s not ready for primetime yet. As for Kyrgios, it isn’t about maintaining focus for a few times each year — it’s about maintaining the focus for a decade or MORE. Just ask the likes of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Wawrinka, Murray … at this point, it’s still far too early to tell with Nick.

  • Scoop malinowski · March 29, 2017 at 11:06 pm

    Socks intensity is too low to beat Nadal. The game is there but the necessary mental desperation is not. Rafas burning to win. His eyes are fierce almost tearing. Jack is laid back happy go lucky. Not enough. To beat the best Sock has to up his intensity. Be a freak. Wildman. Hes gotta brawl with a raging bull. Too nonchalant too casual. Treating Rafa like just another match isnt gonna get the job done. Sock has to have his intensity level to the point that every point is match point.

  • Andrew Miller · March 29, 2017 at 11:12 pm

    Federer wasn’t mighty back in 2002, or Nadal in early 2005 as he headed towards Miami. Both of them overcame hurdles and took advantage as the old guard got older and the then next to be crowned generation missed its chances. They grew into their roles as champs then got better and better.

    But what they did is what these guys need to do, get over themselves and stay focused. Sock needs to get that backhand solid but it was holding up better than I expected, and when he upped his game it looked like he was positioned to potentially pull out the second set and push a third. It all vanished.

    Yeah true enough Nadal just deadly consistent. Able to take all the punches while punching up himself, even while not playing as well as he has before.

  • Andrew Miller · March 29, 2017 at 11:13 pm

    Sock was plenty intense! Almost wanted it too much.

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