Jack Sock Soaks Up New York Success Once Again

Rising American hope Jack Sock may be a Nebraska boy, but he's on his way to becoming a honorary New Yorker if he continues his recent success at the U.S. Open.

By Erik Gudris

(September 1, 2012) -- Jack Sock may be a Nebraska boy, but he's on his way to becoming a honorary New Yorker if he continues his recent success at the U.S. Open.

After last year saw Sock earn widespread attention for playing his hero Andy Roddick in a night match on Arthur Ashe Stadium and then later in the tournament win the mixed doubles title with Melanie Oudin, the 18-year-old Sock backed up his 2011 success with a run to the third round of the men's singles before being stopped today by Nicolas Almagro.

While Sock stayed closed with the Spaniard, it was likely a combination of inexperience in tight matches at the elite level and a nagging arm issue that prevented Sock from pulling off the upset. But Sock still took positives away from the match.

“I think obviously it was a good match and I had my opportunities,” said Sock. “I think it was just a couple points here and there that changed it. In that third set for sure not converting on his break points and then him kind of taking advantage and riding the momentum. But obviously I felt like I was in the match the whole time and definitely had chances. He made a couple more balls when he needed to. I missed a couple of shots that I can't in the future if I want to beat a guy like that.”

While several U.S. college players have had good results this week in New York, Sock chose to turn pro right after high school, a move that some have wondered was the right one considering that Sock had little pro experience before last year.

“Let's I hope it's the right one. I'm still 200 in the world, so let's hope it was the right decision. But, yeah, that's what I was most comfortable with. I felt ready to play. I love competing and traveling and playing tennis, obviously, so I think it was the right thing for me. I mean, everyone is different. I love playing on teams and I think I would have really, really enjoyed playing college tennis, but I think I would have wanted to go for four years. The opportunities last year compared to four years from now, who knows? Probably not the same, I'm guessing, so I think it was the right move for me.”

Sock admitted he needed to improve “everything” in order to compete at the highest levels of the sport, but in the wake of Roddick's impending retirement, Sock dismissed the idea that he was the lone hope to carry the banner of U.S. men's tennis in the next few years.

“I'm not the only American coming up. There's seven, eight others, so there is no pressure really on me.”

But despite playing in other parts of the world, Sock himself is aware of how he well he seems to play not only at his home Major each year.

“In New York, there is not a better place to play tennis. New York for the U.S. Open is definitely the best possible scenario to play tennis in front of, and home crowd and everything with the fans. I mean, that match today, the energy from the crowd was unbelievable. I love playing on that court. It was very intimate. The crowd's – the fans were right there into the match. It was a great feeling.”

With Sock's star on the rise, it's probably a sure bet we will see the affable, yet powerful American hope shine once again on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows.As Sinatra once sang about the greatest city on earth, “If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere.”