By James Waterson Photo Credit: © MELCHIOR DIGIACOMO
(July 28, 2011) Jack Sock, the 18-year-old American who won the U.S. Open junior title, announced on Monday that he is turning professional and he has signed a multiyear deal with adidas.
Sock, who has an 80-0 record in high school matches in his career and has won 21 USTA national titles, will train with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Juan Monaco and others at the adidas Pro Training Camp in Las Vegas this week.
By going professional, Sock is foregoing a college career at the University of Nebraska, where his older brother, Eric, plays.
“I feel like I’m ready to turn pro,” Sock said to the Kansas City Star. “Ultimately, it was my decision and what I feel like is best for me.”
“It’s sad that I won’t get the chance to play college tennis and won’t be able to see my brother play or be on a team with him one more time, but I just felt like my game was ready,” he said.
Sock has good reason to believe he can succeed. He has played on the professional circuit since 2009, and he made his first semifinal on that level in his third tournament. In his fifth futures tournament, the teenager beat two players within the top 500 to claim the title.
He won the 2010 USTA Boy’s 18s National title, which earned him a wildcard into the U.S. Open. In what was his first appearance at a Grand Slam event, he lost to then 63rd-ranked Marco Chiudinelli of Switzerland in four sets in the first round.
In 2011, Sock lost in the final of another futures event, and then reached the quarterfinal of a challenger tournament.
“I’ve been playing Futures events for a year and a half now,” Sock said. “I’m used to the competition. The only difference is accepting the money now. It’s no different in terms of the mind-set.”
His results within the last year have taken his ranking up to a career high No. 544; a ranking he held the week of July 18. He is currently ranked No. 549.