Jack Sock won his first round match in Dallas as a wildcard, a tough three set battle with Ilya Ivashka. But now the moment of truth is here for Sock and his determined efforts to regain his lost status as an elite ATP player.
Tomorrow Sock will play his bogeyman Taylor Fritz. The two Americans from different generations have an interesting rivalry. When Sock was star player in 2016, he twice played the up and coming teenager, both times in Grand Slams. Sock needed five sets both times to thwart Fritz at Australian Open and US Open, 6-4 in the fifth in both first round encounters.
Sock and Fritz would have their next duel two years later in Houston QF but this time Fritz figured out how to beat Sock and prevailed 63 36 64.
They played again in Lyon later in 2018 and again Fritz won 76 62.
Sock’s career has been in the wilderness for the last four years, the former ATP top ten player has not been able to re-enter the top 100 since 2018.
Sock and Fritz played for the fifth time a year ago in Dallas, and Fritz dominated the struggling veteran wildcard 61 64.
So now again they will wage tennis war tomorrow. It’s just another match for the 25 year old, world no. 8 Fritz but it’s life and death for the 30 year old Sock ranked 141.
If Sock can upset Fritz he will make a statement and rebuild the confidence that he can once again play top ten caliber tennis and that he belongs in the top 100 again. But Sock beating Taylor Fritz, who has lost three straight times to, will be a lot easier said than done.
Dallas Open · Jack SOck · Taylor Fritz
Scoop Malinowski · February 9, 2023 at 5:37 pm
I just watched the end of Mannarino 63 76 vs Thompson. Mannarino just didn’t miss anything in the tiebreaker. He could 500 ball rallies and not miss. Looking forward to the current US “It” player Fritz vs the former US star Sock. This is a life and death match for Sock who is eating up a lot of wildcards trying to regain his mojo. Beating Fritz is the kind of win that could change his career course. But another loss looks like another nail in the coffin of his career as an elite player. Big showdown.
Scoop Malinowski · February 9, 2023 at 9:51 pm
Sock played very well but again fell short. He was even with Fritz but in the tiebreaker he came up short in the big moment. Second set down the early break but hung in there only to lose again 76 64. It’s the same old story for Sock, he can still play big time top tennis tennis but he can’t win these matches anymore. He’s never been fitter in his career. He’s still got his weapons but looked a half step slow on the wide forehands. He can still rocket the big serves on break points and big points. Still can volley and snap a few good backhands but the swagger and aura are missing. He’s no longer and elite star, he’s a journeyman now for the last four years and he just can’t snap out of that status. Another bitter disappointing failure by Sock, so close yet so far.