By Scoop Malinowski
Just a few months ago Jack Sock was the beacon of American tennis, winning a Masters Series in Paris and playing sensational tennis at the World Tour Finals round robin and semifinals where he barely lost to eventual champion Grigor Dimitrov.
Now, Jack Sock has crashed. He’s been a non-factor in singles all year, even losing to young Americans Taylor Fritz in Houston and Reilly Opelka in Delray Beach. Sock has lost his swagger, his confidence, his mojo and aura of semi-invincibility.
Sock is a former top ten star who is now falling down the rankings and losing respect. Davis Cup captain demoted Sock from singles status to doubles specialist.
Sock is just 25 and should be entering the prime of his career, not registering journeyman results for the last four months. What can he do to right the sinking ship? What changes must “J Sizzle” initiate to change the direction he’s heading?
I think Sock has to change his attitude and image. The goofball, backwards cap appearance is not befitting of an ATP top ten star. He needs to get serious and stop clowning around with the trick shots. That stuff plays well with the crowd in exhibitions and once in a while on the practice courts.
But the ATP Tour is a very intense, tough environment. Where some players avoid talking to others – Pete Sampras once played 18 holes of golf with three other ATP players and did not say one word to anyone for 18 holes. Sock is having too much fun at the expense of his very best tennis.
Sure, having fun on tour with friends and goofing around in light-hearted practices playing your music list and throwing footballs around relieves the tension and pressure but it’s not productive use of time by a top tier elite player like Sock.
I watched Thomas Bellucci practice today and Sarasota Open with his coach, the recently retired, Andre Sa, and he was grunting on every shot he hit, from feeds by Sa to his forehand and backhand and also his return of serve from the ad court. Bellucci was super serious and grunting on every single ball he hit.
I think if Sock applied the same degree of seriousness and intensity to every ball he strikes in practice, his ranking will skyrocket.
Clowning around on court in practices and even live matches is a bad habit Sock has to eliminate immediately.
Sock has to focus ALL of his energies and talent to one single task – to become the best player that he can be. Hard work, pushing himself to his limits, and sustaining that eye of the tiger for EVERY single point of the entire match, not just certain special key moments of a match, as he does now. That’s a sign of laziness.
Jack Sock has shown greatness in professional tennis many times. Jack Sock can make Jack Sock great again – if he’s willing to pay the price and change his habits, attitude and even appearance. Andre Agassi did it. Mardy Fish did it. So too can Jack Sock.
