Jack Sock, just twenty-two years of age, won his first ATP tour title at the U.S. Clay Court Championships defeating fellow American, Sam Querrey in straight sets 7-6, 7-6. Sock, with this impressive win, has achieved a career high ranking of thirty-six in the world and should he maintain this momentum on the dirt, it is highly probable he will be seeded at the French Open.
Remarkably, at just eighteen years of age, Jack Sock alongside Melanie Oudin, won the 2011 US Open mixed doubles title. The previous year, Sock won the US Open junior boy’s title and last year, partnered with Canada’s Vasek Pospisil, stunned the defending champions and 16 time grand slam doubles champions, Mike and Bob Bryan in five sets to capture the Wimbledon doubles title.
Unquestionably, that victory, in addition to his most recent success in doubles, has significantly impacted his performance in singles. Though he possesses a lethal forehand and powerful serve, I am doubtful he is mentally and physically equipped to battle best of five on the terre battue. Disciplined patience and balanced power, though not mutually exclusive, are seldom observed in the same player and Roland Garros demands abundance of the former and much less of the latter.
Jack Sock, at 6 ft. 3 inches, is quite agile and quick around the court given his stature. He is primarily a baseline player but is comfortable at the net given his frequent and successful doubles play. I am not convinced he will have a long and fruitful career given the extreme physicality of his game. Two other players with similar styles immediately come to mind: Rafa Nadal and Juan Martin Del Potro. Their laundry lists of injuries and surgeries are well documented and it remains to be seen if either player will be able to win another Grand Slam.
Jack Sock may be a “young American” but if he hopes to parlay his Grand Slam mixed and doubles success into singles glory, he might want to rethink his playing style and stroke production. Roger Federer, at thirty-three years of age, ranked two in the world, is still contending for Grand Slam titles and it’s not because the competition is weak; Roger’s technique and fluid movement are unsurpassed and have enabled him to essentially remain, injury free.
Sock would be better served emulating Sir Roger’s rather than Rafa’s technique if he plans on hoisting overhead one, let alone fourteen Grand Slam singles trophies. Irrefutably, the USTA is desperate for the next Pete Sampras or Andre Agassi but Sock would be wise to neutralize that insidious, relentless pressure and play the long game for the one thing he has in abundance is time.
