Jack Sock has split sets at Indian Wells Challenger with Denis Kudla 76 57 and is up a break 21 in the third but he’s down triple break point.
It’s one of those moments of truth. Sock saves two break points and on the third Kudla attacks the Sock backhand corner, coming forward and volleying there again. Sock digs in and rips and backhand that Kudla volleys a foot long. “CMONNNNN!!” Sock roars. He ends up saving another BP and holding serve for 31.
Sock is showing he’s a different warrior now, more serious, more urgent, more desperate. He’s fighting for something more than just a match now, he is fighting for his career now. He’s fighting to show his fiancee his best tennis is ahead in the future not in the past.
It’s probable at this point Sock has matured and learned that he can no longer afford to goof around and train unprofessionally, working on trick shots and throwing footballs around in practice. He has to make every match now life and death important.
I can see Sock reinventing himself into a tennis machine like Andre Agassi, where every ounce of his energy and passion are devoted to winning the next match and getting into optimum shape.
Jack Sock is back and his best tennis is ahead of him. Remember where you heard it first.
All the sudden I look and Sock lost the break and is down 34 in the third. It’s on serve. How will Sock respond?
Sock holds at 30. 4 all.
Kudla serve… Sock works to two break points at 15-40. Fist to his nose, grits teeth. Sock has the burning desire now. Gets the break and serves for the semifinal.
Sock holds at love, 3 of ten on break points, first serve % 75%. 76 57 64.
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Scoop Malinowski · March 7, 2020 at 5:37 pm
Nakashima vs Sock is on serve 32 Nakashima. Crowd is for Sock, one guy yelled out twice CMon Jack. But it didn’t phase the kid from souther California. It’s almost like the crowd feels Jack is the underdog against this stone cold killer machine of a kid. You would think the California fans would be for their own kid. But nothing bothers Nakashima. I think he’s going to win this on what I see. Super solid from the baseline, such a smart mature player. Sock will need to be great today to get a win vs this kid.
Scoop Malinowski · March 7, 2020 at 5:42 pm
44 now. Sock blew a 40-love lead to duece on a DF, missed volley and forehand long but two service winners for the hold 44. Crowd clearly for Sock.
Hartt · March 7, 2020 at 6:03 pm
Wow, Nakashima won the first set TB!
Scoop Malinowski · March 7, 2020 at 6:04 pm
Nakashima was down 03 in the breaker and won it 75. They key point was at 55, they had a long rally and finally Sock netted a BH. SUddenly the crowd cheered, as if now they finally believed in Nakashima or accepted him as for real. Sock hit a BH wide to blow the set. Like I said a few times already, Nakashima is for real, he is going places in the ATP. Will be the top American by 2022.
Hartt · March 7, 2020 at 6:57 pm
Can the youngster win the decider?
Hartt · March 7, 2020 at 7:26 pm
The answer was no, but Nakashima shows real talent, and is certainly a youngster to keep an eye on.
Jeff · March 7, 2020 at 10:33 pm
I haven’t been entertained by a match like that in some time. What a first set. I had to miss some of the second. Young Nakashima is certainly a star in the making.
But this is all about Jack Sock. The boyfriend of Miss North Carolina is on a mission, as Scoop says. Assuming he beats Johnson tomorrow it will be one of the most sensational stories of the tennis season.
Scoop Malinowski · March 8, 2020 at 8:43 am
The Albot win 76 in third in Delray was critical for confidence. I hear he doesn’t adore Johnson. They both believe they are better than each other. Win this and sock is on his way to top ten again.
Harold · March 8, 2020 at 5:00 pm
Sock, down a set and a break. If he loses, his year will come down to the draws in IW and Miami. He somehow lucks out and wins a few rounds, or he faces two unwinnable matches, going into the Clay season. He needs one of those WC vs Qualifier to play the winner of Qualifier vs Qualifier
Scoop Malinowski · March 8, 2020 at 5:30 pm
Johnson played a near perfect match from what I saw. Clean sharp few error tennis. Not a bad loss for Sock, he’s right there, just needs to be a little better which he can fine tune. I saw one of their very first pro meetings at Sarasota Open about 7 years ago, first match on stadium, hot day, Johnson won first set in a TB and then it was like 2-1 in the second and Sock suddenly quit. Good rivarly, both think they are better than the other.
Jeff · March 8, 2020 at 5:45 pm
Nice win for Johnson. From what I understand, Johnson is a hard worker and serious professional so he doesn’t care for the antics of the Socks and Kyrgios of the world. I recall one match he had with Kyrgios in which he was less than amused. So I don’t think he has a dislike for him as much as a Nadal-like disdain for the hi-jinx and nonsense from these guys.
Scoop Malinowski · March 8, 2020 at 6:17 pm
Jeff, yes Johnson is an old school no nonsense warhorse. I saw him play Tomic in DC years ago and Tomic was clowning tanking joking with the umpire about if the number of break points he was saving were an ATP record, he asked him to inquire about it during the game. Tomic was behaving like it was an exo, Johnson was not amused. Johnson of course won. Losing to Johnson, his rival, will surely spark Sock to work harder.
Andrew Miller · March 8, 2020 at 10:21 pm
IW event canceled. THIS IS INSANE.
Jeff · March 8, 2020 at 10:32 pm
That is amazing. This is a major problem for the tennis tours. How will they distribute rankings points and prize money. The sponsors are losing so much money too. Poor Tommy Haas. The only person you feel good for is the sexist guy who got fired and replaced by Haas. Can’t blame him for this.
Also good timing for Sharapova to retire. She misses out on this mess.
Andrew Miller · March 8, 2020 at 11:00 pm
Svito d. Bouzkova/wins Monterey! (nice to see Bouzkova in a final). Nice to see Svitolina back! Kenin d. Friedsam, wins Lyon. Kenin also finds her game. A good week for some out of form players, though the Kenin dip was a few tournaments only.
Scoop Malinowski · March 8, 2020 at 11:03 pm
Two dramatic three set battles in Monterrey and Lyon, won by Svitolina and Kenin. Svitolina dropped flat on her back in relief, exhaustion and joy, just like Nadal after winning some of his majors. The Ukrainian had to work hard to earn this title her first in a while. Kenin showing she’s only just begun her WTA trophy collection.
Andrew Miller · March 9, 2020 at 10:13 am
Svitolina’s first W with Baghdatis on Team Svito. And for Kenin, also a relief.
Harold · March 9, 2020 at 10:46 am
Bags wasn’t there
Andrew Miller · March 9, 2020 at 12:41 pm
Svito said she was working on a lot of new stuff with the Bagman, but maybe her game is just Svitolina doing what she does. It’s hard to add new dimensions. So few do it.