By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, October 24, 2015
Jack Sock powered past Richard Gasquet, 6-4, 6-2, surging into his first career hard-court final in Stockholm.
Photo credit: Sebastian Ullberg/If Stockholm Open
Blown back from the baseline by Jack Sock's blurring forehand at the start, Richard Gasquet finally seemed to find his footing earning triple-break point in the sixth game.
Obliterating a series of forehand winners, Sock stomped out the threat. The barrage left both Gasquet and his coach, former French Open champion Sergi Bruguera, shaking their heads in shared disbelief.
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When Sock is striking with fierce authority, he can put even the most gifted opponents on a swivel. Sock shredded Gasquet with both pace and angle, 6-4, 6-2, powering into his first career hard-court final at the Stockholm Open.
"I had to play well today to beat a guy like that," said Sock, who converted four of his eight break points. "He's having such a good year, but today I was able to stay on him and dictate a lot of the points. I was able to get a rhythm at the end and close it out comfortably."
The 23-year-old American will take on top-seeded Tomas Berdych in the final. Defending champion Berdych held a 6-1 lead over Marcos Baghdatis when the 46th-ranked Cypriot retired after 29 minutes of play. Berdych extended his Stockholm winning streak to 11 matches advancing to the final for the third time.
In their lone prior meeting, Berdych beat Sock 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-4, in Shanghai earlier this month. The 30-year-old Czech is playing for his second title of the month following his victory in Shenzhen.
"It's not the way you want to finish a tennis match, but it's sports and it's unfortunate that it happens," Berdych told ATP World Tour. "You just wish all the best for Marcos. He's a friend and a great guy. I'm through to the final and there's one more match to go.
"It was a tough battle (facing Sock) and I'm expecting revenge from him. I just have to be ready. I'm strong and feeling good, so I'm looking forward to the final."
It's a busy weekend for Sock, who will partner Nicholas Monroe against compatriots Eric Butorac and Scott Lipsky in the doubles semifinal later today.
Sock's booming serve, blistering forehand and speed around the court make him an explosive player. Improved fitness and sharper shot selection have made him a player for all surfaces. Sock won his first ATP title on the red clay of Houston in April, reached the Newport semifinals on grass in July and will try to claim his first hard-court title tomorrow.
The second-seeded Gasquet was playing for his third final of the season while trying to sustain his flickering hopes for the year-end ATP World Tour Finals.
Sock made a statement displacing the Wimbledon semifinalist in the opening game.
Bouncing on his toes off the doubles alley, Sock smacked a forehand return winner down the line, followed with another forehand down the line and coaxed an error to break.
That sparked a streak of seven straight points as Sock stepped out to a 2-0 lead six minutes into the match.
Gasquet's one-handed backhand is a sweeping stroke he can angle off to any spot in the court. The world No. 12 tried to target Sock's weaker two-handed backhand and engage the American in backhand exchanges. Sock eradicated that tactic by frequently stepping around the backhand to blast forehands that pushed Gasquet into pursuit.
Shotmaking dazzle wasn't restricted to Sock's twisting topspin forehand. A hopping backhand winner, struck mid-air in Marcelo Rio-style, and a sharp backhand pass earned the American break point in the third game. Sock displaced Gasquet with some higher, heavier forehands then zapped the inside-out forehand winner breaking again for 3-0.
After that explosive start, Sock came back to earth a bit, wrapping a couple of forehand errors around a double fault to gift back one break.
Dripping so much sweat his blue shirt clung to his skin as if dipped in ink, Gasquet used his finesse to earn triple break point in the sixth game. Sock unloaded a series of forehand winners, including one he fired from well off the doubles alley, stamping a hold for 4-2.
Sock, who served only 47 percent in the first set, served it out. He immediately broke to start the second set backing up the break with an ace down the middle.
The 2014 Wimbledon doubles champion can volley with finesse and depth and possesses a strong overhead. Sock's willingness to move forward behind those forehand blasts put the match away. A smash and ripping forehand helped Sock slash through his second break of the set for 4-1.
The seventh-seeded Sock hit nine of his 11 aces in the second set when he won 16 of 19 points played on his serve.
A disconsolate Gasquet could only wave at returns as Sock finished with a flourish slamming three aces to serve out a commanding victory in less than a minute.