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Jul/19

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Can Sock Solve The Thompson Puzzle at Citi Open?

Jack Sock will try to win his first singles match of 2019 today against Jordan Thompson of Australia.

On the surface, it would appear to be a favorable draw for the 26 year old American, however it’s anything but. Sock has played the 25 year old Australian twice before and lost both matches in 2017, which of course was Sock’s career highlight year in the ATP when he finished the season ranked in the top ten.

In 2017, Sock lost to Thompson in four tough sets in Davis Cup and then again at the US Open in five sets, 62 76 16 57 64.

Thompson is at his career high right now, ranked 46 in the world (three notches below his career best ranking earlier this month). This year Thompson, coached by former Aussie player Jaymon Crabb, has a 21-16 won/loss record which is a major improvement from his career record of 38-56.

This year Thompson has some quality singles wins – he has beaten Gasquet, Tiafoe, Paul, Dimitrov, Khachanov, Lopez, de Minaur, Mannarino, He lost to Adrian Mannarino 63 76 in his first ATP final in s-Hertogenbosch. Before Citi Open, though, Thompson has been on a losing streak – he lost first round at Wimbledon, Newport and Atlanta.

It’s a big match today for Sock, ranked 178, and it will not be played in his favorite conditions. Sock will play second match on court 4 at around 2 or 3 in the afternoon on what will be a very hot day in the nation’s capital.

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112 comments

  • Hartt · August 3, 2019 at 1:39 pm

    Yay, Thiem finally won his home tourney in Kitzbuhel, defeating ARV in SS. The first set went to a TB that Dominic won 7-0, and he took the 2nd set 6-1. Thomas Muster was the only other Austrian to win the title, although Thiem’s coach, Nicolas Massu, also won it.

    At last, a treat-eligible player came through! 🙂

  • catherine · August 3, 2019 at 3:59 pm

    Scoop – I’m impressed with McNally and I think she should attack the net against Giorgi, who might be pushed on the back foot. She’s got more potential than Gauff at present – and I’ll predict their doubles partnership won’t last much longer if she breaks through in singles.

  • Scoop Malinowski · August 3, 2019 at 10:06 pm

    Catherine, I think Mcnally can be better than Barty, she has it all. Already and it will only get better, everything will only get better with experience and repetition. Looks like Kyrgios has finally got his head screwed on right and found the missing marbles.

  • Jeff · August 3, 2019 at 10:21 pm

    Catherine, was nice to see Giorgi back with the white skirt today. Plenty of upskirts. I didn’t like that black outfit either.

    To be fair, McNally had a short skirt as well but not as short. Good matchup.

  • Scoop Malinowski · August 3, 2019 at 10:41 pm

    Super short skirts have always been a part of tennis, just saw a Columbo episode and Blythe Danner in the 70s was playing tennis in it wearing a super short skirt showing her undergarments. If you’ve got it, flaunt it.

  • Jeff · August 4, 2019 at 12:20 am

    Wow Vasek Pospisil came out firing in his online piece about the tennis politics. He said that the players nearly boycotted the Australian Open in 2012 except Federer didn’t want to do that and that the players are trying to start a union.

    My question is why would he put his claims out in public, how does that help any negotiation? Also I don’t understand how this constant complaining promotes the sport. Plus these players don’t mention how they have opportunities in doubles to earn money as well. I think there is plenty of blame to go around but why these guys bash the sport I have no idea. At least Pospisil is a player who has accomplished something unlike a hack like Rubin.

  • catherine · August 4, 2019 at 1:23 am

    Well, that was a good show from Giorgi – 8 dfs didn’t help McNally but she did a good job reaching the SFs. Giorgi plays Pegula, a player I know nothing about at all I’m afraid.

    Jeff, we’ve been here before over the years – about players and a union and all that but it never ultimately goes anywhere, because I don’t think the players really know what they wsnt, except more money. There will always be a gap between those who have and those who have not – it’s a competitive sport. And, to coin a phrase, the sport will always be bigger than the players because union or no union they haven’t a hope of rivalling GS events, which have all the prestige. Events like the Laver Cup, and there will probably be more of them, are for the top players, and just pack the schedule – which is something there are always complaints about.

  • catherine · August 4, 2019 at 1:35 am

    And the Warrior Queen squashes Vecic to reach the final in San Jose. Sabalenka wins in SS. We’ll see how her new mindset holds up in coming tournaments. Her serve seems to have settled down a little.

  • catherine · August 4, 2019 at 2:05 am

    Sorry – Vekic.

    And just to add – I can’t remember when I last saw a woman play a true serve/volley point until I watched McNally – she’s only 17 so I hope she doesn’t forget how to do it. She stood well inside the baseline on lots of points. When did any teenage girl last do that ?

    Scoop – I agree, if McNally keeps improving she’ll be better than Barty. She moves better I think.

  • Hartt · August 4, 2019 at 2:59 am

    Somehow I think there were many players outside of Federer (presuming that is who Vasek meant) who were opposed to boycotting the 2012 AO. That is a huge step, and one of the problems players like Novak and Vasek face in achieving change is simply getting enough players engaged. For many players their time and focus is on their own careers and they don’t have anything left to become involved in tennis politics, in attempts at major change.

    I agree with many of Vasek’s points in that Globe and Mail article, ideas he has expressed many times.

    But he conveniently overlooks the fact that many tourneys put money back into tennis. For example, Tennis Canada owns the Rogers Cup, and relies on the tourney’s profits for nearly all of its funding. Wimbledon has an agreement that goes until 2053 that 90% of its profits will go to the LTA, according to an article in the Independent (June 26, 2019). Last year that represented 40 million pounds.

  • Harold · August 4, 2019 at 8:56 am

    Pro tennis players that never get to the top, where they earn a living that sets them up for life, are just pissed that in 2 years after they retire, they’ll be working at some Tennis club, feeding balls to beginners, saying “ Turn, Racket back, good” 50 times a day..

  • Jeff · August 4, 2019 at 11:08 am

    Catherine, you are so right. I remember the complaints of the players who didn’t compete in the Laver Cup on the money. Well if you were better at tennis, you could be in it! But no one is going to fill a stadium to watch Noah Rubin. It is as if they only want more money because tennis is a difficult sport. Yes it is difficult but that does not mean journeymen should get more money.

    I respect the women for not complaining about this actually.

    Harold is right but that tennis pro life isn’t bad.

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