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Jack Sock Has Unique Ability To Strike Big When You Least Expect
63 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
A special, rare talent in a tennis player is the ability to produce your best tennis when it’s least expected.
Jack Sock has consistently shown this unique skill throughout his career.
At the 2010 US Open junior boys event, Sock was a wildcard entrant but managed to stun the junior tennis world by winning the event over Dennis Kudla in the final. (By the way, the now highly-touted Dominic Thiem was the #14 seed in that same event, but was trounced in the first round by Japan’s Taro Daniel 64 60. Other notable players in that draw: Jiri Vesely, Daniel Kosakowski, MacKenzie McDonald, Marton Fucsovics, Mitchell Frank, Damir Dzumhur.)
The very next year, Sock was a wildcard with Melanie Oudin into the US Open mixed doubles event, and guess what, Sock, still a teenager, and Oudin won the title.
Sock also won a doubles title with James Blake in Delray Beach, Florida a couple of years ago, defeating Max Mirnyi.
While Sock’s singles success has come in spurts, he has shown flashes of the brilliance required to become a top ATP player. Sock has defeated Milos Raonic indoors, shortly after Raonic won San Jose. He’s beaten Florian Mayer at the US Open. He’s beaten Ivo Karlovic. And perhaps most importantly, Sock has shown that his forehand is and can be one of the best in the business.
But along with his scattered successes, Sock is also known for his inconsistency, and those disappointing, lackluster losses to lesser known players.
This week, after a quiet year on the ATP Tour and Challenger circuit, Sock is suddenly making waves again. He thrashed a wounded Nicolas Almagro in the first round and straight-setted fellow American Steve Johnson today in the second round.
Suddenly, Jack Sock is in the third round of the French Open.
And given his history of putting up astonishing results when you least expect, you have to wonder when Sock’s next big flashy strike is going to hit the tennis world.
That long-awaited Sock Shocker may happen sooner than you think.
Sock's already won a major title
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« Previous 1 2Hans Landa · June 3, 2014 at 9:10 am
agree scoop, bouchie or halep can go-all-the-way!
Andrew Miller · June 3, 2014 at 9:59 am
Suarezs smashing bouchard now. Sheesh. Wake up kid!
Andrew Miller · June 3, 2014 at 10:07 am
Suarez puts genie backin bottle. I thought genie would make short work of suarez. Clearly suarez navarro had conhitamartinez plans to prevent that!
Scoop Malinowski · June 3, 2014 at 10:14 am
Agree Hans, they both have the look of future major champs. Bouchard may have to wait a few more months though, CSN has her on the woodshed chopblock.
Scoop Malinowski · June 3, 2014 at 10:15 am
Has there ever been a more unsung, unheralded, under the radar, under appreciated player than Carla Suarez Navarro???
Scoop Malinowski · June 3, 2014 at 10:16 am
I have never seen a single interview or article written about Carla Saurez Navarro. And I plead guilty of never writing about or interviewing her either. That will change next time I get though. Promise.
Andrew Miller · June 3, 2014 at 10:25 am
Bouchard serves for it!
Andrew Miller · June 3, 2014 at 10:36 am
Bouchard wins! Great match. Props to cns. Sharapova shows why she is champ also taking out muguruza – never been a huge sharapova fan but can anyone deny how tough she is? That was a been there done that victory over an inspired muguruza. Spain goes down.
Andrew Miller · June 3, 2014 at 10:36 am
Scoop this bouchard muguruza deal brings some memories of seles capriati.
Andrew Miller · June 3, 2014 at 10:39 am
Suarez navarro played huge. No shame in a great performance. She had bouchard. Tightened up. I listened to match on radio it was better than i thought it would be. The playbyplay was great!
Hans Landa · June 3, 2014 at 10:50 am
i think navarro is a hardcore rainbow flag bearer. and not hideous either but i suspect why the media keeps her below the radar. nonetheless a great 1-hander / competitor. too bad, media / world can be biased..
Hans Landa · June 3, 2014 at 10:57 am
what a beautiful SF : sharapova – bouchy! i like the newcomer bouchy in 3 however cannot count out the veteran just yet, esp. knowing serena / li na are history..
Andrew Miller · June 3, 2014 at 11:55 am
Could.be on suarez. Bodo tignor and wertheim all write about her but she gets no press otherwise. I like pova because shes been there done that but bouchard fears no one but her nerves. If maria shoulder hurts genie gets her first slam final.