By Alberto Amalfi | Sunday, April 12, 2015
Jack Sock saved three set points in the first-set tie break, defeating Sam Querrey, 7-6 (9), 7-6 (2), to capture his first career ATP title in Houston.
Photo credit: @mensclaycourt
Jack Sock saved three set points in the first-set tie break. He saved some of his best shots for the second-set breaker.
In an all-American final, Sock subdued Sam Querrey, 7-6 (9), 7-6 (2), to capture his first career ATP title on the red clay of River Oaks Country Club in Houston today.
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The 22-year-old Sock is the first American to win his first career ATP title on clay since fellow Nebraska native Andy Roddick, who won Atlanta in 2001.
Sock is projected to climb to a career-high rank of No. 36 when the new ATP rankings are released tomorrow, which will make him the new American No. 2 behind John Isner. Querrey is projected to move up to No. 40.
In a match of big serves and booming forehands, it was Querrey's inability to capitalize on his leads — and Sock's inspired comebacks in both sets — that made the difference.
The eighth-seeded Querrey's forehand is his best groundstroke, but his backhand helped him take charge in the first-set tie break. Querrey sliced a backhand off both lines and followed with a two-handed backhand pass down the line to take a 5-2 lead in the breaker.
Querrey seemed to be in charge, but Sock had other ideas.
Sock spun a sharp forehand winner corsscourt to save the first set point. Querrey netted a nervous backhand on his second set point. Sock bolted a forehand pass down the line for his first set point, but Querrey withstood it to level at 8-all.
A 138 mph serve winner down the middle gave Querrey his third set point. But Sock, who hit some of his most aggressive forehand at critical stages, ripped another forehand to erase the third set point. Two points later another biting forehand from Sock drew the error and the Wimbledon doubles champion had snatched the opening set.
It was a bitter result for Querrey, who earned more break points in the set (three to one) and had more set points, but in what has become the story of his season, Querrey could not close the leads he built.
Still, Querrey slid a forehand pass down the line scoring the first break of the second set for a 4-3 advantage.
It was a short-lived lead. Sock earned double break point in the next game and when Querrey put a forehand into net, Sock was back on serve at 4-4.
It wasn't a flawless performance from Sock, who clanked 11 double faults and sometimes had trouble landing his two-handed backhand. But Sock's quickness around the court, the eye-popping racquet-head speed he generated on his forehand and his knack for producing some spectacular shot-making under pressure bailed him out.
A tremendous running forehand pass crosscourt brought Sock to deuce in the 12th game of the second set. Feeling the tension, Querrey spun a double fault to face championship point. He saved it with an aggressive point and followed with an ace. Querrey struck a forehand winner down the line to force the tie break.
The second-set tie break was all Sock.
A crackling inside-out forehand and a mammoth forehand winner gave Sock a 3-1 lead. Sock improvised a slice backhand winner to reach championship point and sealed his first title on a Querrey return error.
Sock is the sixth American man to win in Houston, joining Roddick, Andre Agassi, Mardy Fish, John Isner and Ryan Sweeting.