Jack Sock is still out there grinding in Challengers. Last week he had to default in the QF of Columbus due to a positive Covid test with no symptoms. This week he returned to play in Cleveland and beat Brayden Schnur in three sets but lost 61 21 retired to Michael Mmoh. He looked like a beaten player or perhaps maybe he was injured or feeling sick.
Sock seemed to be flexing a groin sometimes, but didn’t call for a trainer. He was not ripping forehands or serves as we all know he can. Whether it was a broken spirit or some injury, that wasn’t quite clear. After losing the third game of the second set he just walked to the net and told Mmoh the match was over. Sock left the court on his own, no limp, no noticeable arm, back, wrist or shoulder injury.
Mmoh was doing some quiet, muted fist pumps through the match after making good shots or provoking Sock to make an error but he did it in a manner respectful of Sock. If Mmoh believed Sock was injured he’s not the kind of guy to use a fist pump or macho gesture to rub it in. So Mmoh didn’t seem to sense Sock was injured either.
At 29 and ranked 150 Jack Sock may be cooked. Sock has not been ranked in the top 100 since late 2018. Then at the end 2019 he lost all of his points because he didn’t win one match the whole year. His ranking was zero as in no ranking, no ATP points at all. Sock has tried to fight his way back, working hard with coach Alex Bogomolov in Charlotte, NC but other than a few good scattered wins since 2019, the struggles have continued for the former Wimbledon and and Olympic doubles champ, now into the fourth year of the comeback.
Sock was once ranked no. 8 in the world in late 2017 and early 2018. But that was a long time ago.
Now, by the way Sock looks on court and his poor results, he may be very very fortunate to even break back into the top 100. It remains to be seen if Sock’s self belief and body are strong enough to produce one or two more last hurrahs.
Matty · February 7, 2022 at 12:23 am
Certainly Sock has to be considered the world’s premier doubles player but that isn’t his focus. His match in Washington DC was outstanding in a 7-6 third set loss. He fired off world-class forehands all evening, even making Nadal look slow. But at least Jack seems happy…with a stunning wife in tow.
Scoop Malinowski · February 7, 2022 at 8:08 am
MAtty, that would have been a huge win for Sock and he deserved it but just fell short. Actually his doubles results have been only average lately. Maybe he tanked to Mmoh in Cleveland because he got a WC into singles and doubles in Dallas this week. but he has a tough, second round would be vs Davis Cup teammate and no. 1 seed and 20 ranked Taylor Fritz.