The US-American Jack Sock is in a crisis and has to accept a completely failed start to the season. The next setback followed in the USA.
In Delray Beach, Sock entered the tournament as a top seeded player and had to say goodbye to a tournament in the second round. His fellow countryman Reilly Opelka, who is number 228 in the world rankings, lost 6-4,5-7 and 3-6 to Sock after three sets. As number eight in the world, such a result must inspire thought.
After his sensational year-end in 2017 and the coup at the Masters in Paris Bércy, the 25-year-old made his way into the top 10 and was a favourite for the big tournament victories in 2018. The American had already been unable to confirm this role at the Australian Open and had to pack his suitcases early in the first round against Yuichi Sugita.
Since the beginning of the year, sock looks inhibited and seems to have fallen into an emotional and playful hole. The body language of the world rankings is not positive from the first point on. This was Sock’s downfall at the start of the season in Auckland, when he was severely criticized for his first-round defeat of Peter Gojowczyk.
The press complained that the manner in which he acted was not justified and listless. This should change as soon as possible, Sock wants to keep his position in the ranking. Especially before the upcoming Masters tournaments in the USA, the 25-year-old has to increase enormously in order to have a chance in the strong starting field.
As the best US-American on the tour, Sock was praised above all for his punching strength and wit and he was predicted to have enormous potential. After the breakthrough, however, the break-in of Sock’s young career now seems to have taken place.
The US-American is a real enrichment for the tour, who also has a casual saying on his lips and can’t resist some fun during the matches. In addition to all the gimmicks, the finals participant also amazes with great and powerful tennis paired with high-class strokes, which can endanger any player on the tour. Sock should find his way back to this lightness as soon as possible – because that’s what the 25-year-old is all about and it’s fun to watch.