Jack Sock Has Unique Ability To Strike Big When You Least Expect

Hans,

Are you kidding? Sock has a long long way to go to be as good as Roddick. What does your gut tell you right now? You think Sock will win a slam and be in the finals of 4 others? I can’t say that about Sock. By the time Roddick was Sock’s age now, he was No. 1 in the world and a slam champion. Sock is #75 and his best result in a slam is the 3rd round.

Sock said after today’s match against Johnson something I’ve never heard a pro player say. Gimelstob interviewing him asked why Johnson went after him at net once during the match and tried to hit him and Sock said it was all done in the light of “friendly competition.” I’ve never heard that phrase used before by a pro player talking about a match.

Gaurang is right. But as a player youcan only beat who is across the net each round. Maybe a u.s. mens playerwill make rd four for the first time in a while.

Maybe sock is meeting the moment. But the rest of the tournament he has his work cut out for him! Third round is great*

*With a little help! But everyone needs lady luck.

Sock has a great forehand. But his work ethic may not be so good and his anticipation on court and creativity is lacking. He can’t slide on clay like most Americans. He’ll be lucky to win ATP titles. And Sock has not won a title yet. he’s far behind what is expected of him considering his age. He’ll be up and coming until age 29 I suspect.

Gusta

Haha gusta up and coming until 29. Very funny. Sock is showing urgency at least!

Dan, i was only kidding about socko becoming roddick. they are both very mediocre players at best in my book. if fed wasnt in roddick’s life – then roddick could have been a great one!

Roddick was excellent and sometimes the worlds most ppwerful player with the serve forehand combo. Maybe we believe he underprformed but if you ask him i bet hed say he overachieved. Like danihantuchova says

Talent is just onestep away from laziness.

My abiloty to predict officially stinks. The old guard om both mens and womens side is holding up just fine. Townsend went down to suarez navarro meekly. Fed won. Djokovic is sealing his win soon on cilic.

Surprise thus far: gulbis. Dont know how he played but sxoreline over stepanek looks like he took care of business.

Hey anyone who wins a slam earned it and roddick earned the “not mediocre” label many times over. A five time slam finalist cant be mediocre – few players have done that. Add in a ton of tournament wins, an outstanding win loss record, a davis cup title. Arguably better than hall of famer chang by virtue of his wimbledon performance. Titles on all surfaces. Wins against everyone in his generation. If he stuck with gilbert one more year who knows – maybe another slam.

How good is Robredo, huh? He might not win this match against Izzie, but if it goes to the 5th set, Izzie has a horrid five-set match record while Tommy has a very good 5 set record. But Robredo has popped up in the Top 20 again at age 32 after not playing the entire 2012 season. I just love every part of his game. He’s almost never mentioned as having one of the best one-handed backhands, but he does.

Dan you might like wertheims write up of francis tiafoe. Even if most u.s. juniors are destined for modest tommy ho and kristian pless results.

roddick is so mediocre compared to the greats (fed, nadal, sampras, agassi).

I liked Roddick quite a bit. He won a grand slam, reached no. 1 rank, then stuck around in top 10 for many, many years, also made to 4 wimbledon finals… He was a staple of the Grand Slams quarter finals.

Raonic came off a tough 5 setter against Simon. I think Raonic has arrived!

G my point is making a huge deal of sliding bas been more intimidation for u.s. players rather than encouragement. U.s. players for mo te than a decade. Have been allergicto clay despite some players actually finding success in davis cup on clay etc. Thats my only point – a good attitide will push a player to deal with clay and a bad attitude such as “i hate clay” wont.

Sock indeed got socked.

Looks like DY is indeed playing well. Hope he continues and improves even further.

Sock losing in straights to Lajovic makes his tournament not so impressive. I mean, who’s Lajovic? Almagro came up lame and Steve Jo is not a clay player. So really DY had the best tournament of the Americans not Izzie. That’s our new line, the best player of the Americans not Izzie.

Who knows. I think Scoops idea on u.s. players needing one guy to break through big is right. That said i think dans analysis of a third round straight set loss by sock to a similarly ranked player is accurate – not much hope in it.

On the womens u.s. side sloane coming through and she is all alone!

Finally i think it is awesome serena and venus inspired so many players. They inspired not only veterans like seles but players like townsend.

Shut the door. Sorry again !

Once Sock lucked out with Almagro injury and beat Johnson I expected him to make the 4th round. His inconsistency crept back and he’s busto. I don’t know if he needs to train harder or if it’s mental but it just doesn’t feel like his results are going to merge with his natural talent.

Since he’s dating Sloane Stephens maybe she can tell him how to up his game at the majors. She’s mediocre at every tournament except the big 4.

Sock is talented no doubt. Brooding like murray. Feel like he should take ballet to get more comfortable out there with moving.

Isner didnt play too bad either – i think berdych just knows the territory better. I know everyone celebrates the french but lets commend the americans for showing a diversity of style out there. From sock to townsend i think u.s. tennis is showing it is alive with a big heartbeat. Stephens too – waking up just in time.

Bryan totally agree. Really haven’t seen this for a while, she takes the court like #1, totally fierce, commits to her shots, doesn’t mess around with opponents – shuts the door quickly, efficient game, plays like it’s her court. Reminds me of Sampras a bit on the mental side, or Serena when honed in but more focused (if that is even possible). True enough – if she has the trophy you called it. I look up and down the women’s rankings, I don’t see someone who plays like this outside Serena or Sharapova on best days. Don’t see many on the mens side either that do this – Nadal, Djokovic when they are on.

Scoop Bouchard has the instinct! Halep is excellent no doubt, but Bouchard gives nothing. No hope to opponents. Nothing. She doesn’t put pressure on the opponent – she deflates their hope!