Jack Sock

Jack Sock is an American tennis player who has, with his on-court exploits, kept his country's hopes of producing another male Slam champion alive.

Sock has broken into the top 10 of the ATP singles rankings and also qualified for the year-end championships once (both in 2017). That said, his bigger successes have come in doubles, where he has won multiple Grand Slam trophies.

Best finish at each of the four Grand Slams:

Australian Open: 3rd Round (2017)

French Open: 4th Round (2015)

Wimbledon: 3rd Round (2016)

US Open: 4th Round (2016)

Highest Ranking: No. 8

Style of play

Sock is an aggressive baseliner who always takes big cuts on the ball. He has a distinctive forehand which he hits with extreme topspin and pace, making the ball shoot viciously into the air after contact with the ground.

Sock uses his serve and forehand to push his opponents behind the baseline, and looks to end points as quickly as possible. He occasionally even approaches the net to put away a winner, and is fairly comfortable with volleying.

Sock also uses his return of serve to neutralize points, and can defend effectively from the back of the court when he is forced to.

Strengths and weaknesses

Sock's forehand is his biggest strength, and also one of the most unique shots on the tour right now. The amount of topspin he generates with it can rival that produced by Rafael Nadal.

Sock's forehand pushes his opponents far back behind the baseline, which in turn helps him put away short balls for winners.

The American has a strong serve, and can hit it with both high-kicking spin and flat pace. His second serve is particularly deadly, as it often leaves his opponents surprised with its speed and zip.

Sock is very quick around the court, and uses his foot speed to defend with assurance whenever he is pushed behind the baseline.

Sock's backhand is his weaker wing; it doesn't produce anywhere close to the kind of pace or spin that his forehand can. He is also prone to errors of judgment, often going for big shots from defensive positions which end up as unforced errors.

Personal life

Sock was born in Lincoln, and started playing tennis at the age of 8. When he was 12 he moved along with his mother Pam and brother Eric to Kansas City, in order to join the Mike Wolf Tennis Academy. His father Larry, however, continued working as a financial advisor in Lincoln.

Sock turned pro in the year 2011, and broke into the top 100 in 2013. Within a year of that he tasted Grand Slam success, albeit in doubles, winning the Wimbledon men's doubles trophy with Vasek Pospisil.

The American has had an up and down career in singles so far, and his breakthrough 2017 was followed by an alarmingly indifferent 2018. In that 2017 season he won the Paris Masters, and reached the semifinals of the ATP Finals a few weeks later. The next year, however, he would not find any joy in singles.

Doubles was a different story. Sock teamed up with Mike Bryan to form the best doubles partnership in the world. The duo won both Wimbledon and the US Open in 2018, and have turned into an intimidating presence on the court together.

Sock could well turn into a doubles specialist in his later years, but his accomplishments in singles will not be forgotten. Not many active players in the current era can boast of having won an ATP Masters 1000 title, and that puts Sock in elite company.

Social media presence:

Jack Sock Instagram: @jack.sock

Jack Sock Twitter: @JackSock