By E.J. Crawford
Jack Sock is off to an impressive start to 2017. He went undefeated in round-robin play to lead the U.S. into the Hopman Cup final and won the Australian Open tune-up in Auckland, New Zealand, for his second career ATP singles title. Here’s a little more on this rising young American.
The Jack Sock File
Age: 24
Height: 6-3
Residence: Kansas City, KS
Current Rank: 20
Career-High Rank: 20 (January 2017)
Best 2016 Series Finish: Round of 16 (Rogers Cup)
The Baseline
- It’s been a steady climb up the rankings for Sock, who has improved his season-end ranking each year since 2010. In 2016, he finished the year at No. 23 and briefly became the top-ranked American man for the first time, and his win in Auckland propelled him to a career-best No. 20.
- Sock drew comparisons early in his career to 2003 US Open champion Andy Roddick, both for his game – big serve, big forehand – and birthplace – both hail from Nebraska.
- In addition to his title in Auckland – where he defeated former Top 30 players Jeremy Chardy, Steve Johnson and Joao Sousa – Sock won the U.S. Clay Court Championships in Houston in 2015. Last year, he also reached the finals in Stockholm, Houston and Auckland.
- Sock is a standout doubles player. He won the gold medal in mixed doubles (with Bethanie Mattek-Sands) and the bronze medal in men’s doubles (with Johnson) at the 2016 Olympics, and he won the Wimbledon men’s doubles title in 2014 (with Vasek Pospisil). Sock peaked at No. 6 in the individual doubles rankings in 2015 and currently stands at No. 16.
- Sock has thrived at the US Open throughout his career. He won the boys’ singles title in 2010 and the mixed doubles title in 2011 (with Melanie Oudin). And last year, he matched his best-ever Grand Slam singles result by upsetting 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic to advance to the round of 16. (Sock also reached the fourth round at the 2015 French Open.)
- Sock's best career Series showing came in Atlanta in 2014, when he reached the singles semifinals and won the doubles title with Vasek Pospisil.
They Said It!
“I was able to put in a lot of work in the offseason and I think it paid off. I was able to make lots of gains and lots of strides forward. I think it really showed this week.” – Sock, to atpworldtour.com, after winning Auckland for his second career ATP title