Jack Sock Rules Rolex • Paris Tennis • Qualifies For ATP Nitto World Tour Finals In London

Jack Sock of USA kisses his trophy after winning the singles final match against Filip Krajinovic of Serbia at the Rolex Paris Masters tennis tournament in Paris, France, 05 November 2017. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

 

 

Jack Sock nearly flat-lined out of Paris in his opener.

 

Sock rocketed a pair of passes down the line rising to a career peak in Paris today.

 

Sock stormed through the final set subduing Serbian qualifier Filip Krajinovic, 5-7, 6-4, 6-1, to capture the Rolex Paris Masters and secure his spot in the elite eight of the ATP World Tour Finals.

 

When Krajinovic’s final shot sailed, Sock crumpled to the court and covered his face with his hands in joy while a spotlight hovered over him.

 

In the City of Light, Sock blazed to brilliant career firsts.

 

Claiming his first career Masters championship, Sock qualified for the season-ending Finals in London for the first time and will crack the Top 10 for the first time.

 

Sock will rise to No. 9 when the new ATP rankings are released tomorrow sealing his spot as the American year-end No. 1 for the first time in his career—while cashing a champion’s check of nearly one million dollars.

 

“There have been a lot of firsts,” said Sock, who earned the champion’s check of $990,610. “It started at the French Open with my first fourth round of a Slam, now I’ve won my first Masters 1000 in Paris, this will be my first time in the Top 10 and this will be the first time making the year-end Finals. So there’s a lot going on right now emotionally and I can’t wait to enjoy it all with my team.”

 

It’s been a wild ride for Sock, who staggered through a five-match losing streak that started in Cincinnati and stretched through Shanghai, including a stinging five-set exit in the US Open first round.

 

Arriving in Paris lodged at 24th place in the ATP race for the World Tour Finals, Sock wasn’t just a London long-shot, he was an afterthought with Pablo Carreno Busta, US Open finalist Kevin Anderson and compatriots Sam Querrey and John Isner all ahead of him poised to book their spot in London.

 

The rugged American ditched the backward baseball cap and attacked challenges he faced with clear-eyed resilience and that menacing forehand in what could prove to be a career-altering week.

 

Sock joins world No. 1 Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Alexander Zverev, Dominic Thiem, Marin Cilic, Grigor Dimitrov and David Goffin in the eight-man field for the season-ending World Tour Finals.

 

Sock is the first American to raise a Masters 1000 trophy since fellow Nebraska native Andy Roddick won the 2010 Miami—snapping a streak of 69 consecutive Masters championships won by Europeans.

 

Collecting his third title of the season—and first career indoor title—Sock the first U.S. player to qualify for the season-ending World Tour Finals since Mardy Fish in 2011 and the first American to rule Paris since Andre Agassi in 1999.

 

When Sock reviews this inspired run, he will view his stirring comeback from 1-5 down in the final set against Kyle Edmund in his Paris opener as the game-changer in a career breakthrough week.

 

In both that comeback and today’s final, Sock showed savvy ripping some bold strikes down the line and taking timely breaks to recharge.

 

Down 2-5 against Edmund, Sock took a medical timeout for treatment of a lower back strain—a pause that also gave Edmund time to think about the task of serving out the match. Sock rallied for a 4-6, 7-6, 7-6 triumph.

 

Facing a one-set deficit today, Sock took a bathroom break and returned cracking his forehand with authority.

 

Detonating some ferocious diagonal forehands to Krajinovic’s sturdy backhand, Sock challenged the Serbian’s strength with his biggest weapon throughout the final.

 

Sock flipped the switch on shot-making spectacle and took charge of the final set with successive passes to break.

 

Scrambling to his left Sock scooped out a hustling backhand pass down the line earning break point with an electric shot and shout. Sprinting right, Sock slashed a forehand dagger down the line breaking for 2-1. That strike was even more jolting because of the ground Sock covered before buzzing the pass.

 

While his heavy topspin forehand commands attention, it’s Sock’s speed around the court—and his ability to generate eye-popping racquet-head speed on the run—that fuels the explosiveness. Spinning a backhand crosscourt, Sock broke again for 4-1.

 

Sock slid a forehand winner down the line for championship point. When Krajinovic’s final shot sailed, Sock climbed over the back wall and hugged his coach, Jay Berger, before an extended embrace with his girlfriend sharing this career highlight with gratitude.

 

“This week is an incredible moment for me especially the way it started,” Sock told the crowd . “Being down big in my first match and being able to battle through that one and now standing here with the trophy is indescribable.”

 

Now, it’s on to London.