Sock Soars In Auckland
Sock Soars In Auckland
Flu symptoms can’t slow American in upset of top seed/four-time champ Ferrer
Jack Sock will play for his second ATP World Tour title, advancing to the final of the ASB Classic with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 upset of top seed and four-time champion David Ferrer.
The 26th-ranked American now awaits the winner of the Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs. Roberto Bautista Agut semi-final.
“I knew coming in I would have to play some unbelievable tennis,” said Sock, who continued his new tradition of tossing an autographed sock into the stands following the win. “It was a difficult day. I woke up with some flu-like symptoms. I didn’t know if I was going to play. I ended up coming out and playing some of my best tennis of my career. Maybe I can stay sick through Melbourne and play like this.”
Sock, 23, is 10 years Ferrer’s junior, but he played with veteran poise against the Spaniard on Friday in Auckland, rallying from a set down with a high-risk/high-reward forehand attack that has many convinced he will only continue to work his way upward in the Emirates ATP Rankings.
Ferrer, who holds the Open Era record for most ASB Classic titles (2007, 2011-13), was hoping to go for go for a fifth on Saturday.
Sock dug himself a 0-40 hole serving at 2-3 in the opening set, an unenviable position to be in when facing one of the world’s premier return artists. Ferrer would consolidate the break for a 5-2 lead. Two games later he held serve at love for the 28-minute set.
But Sock, the World No. 26, roared back to grab a pair of breaks of his own to force a third set. He opened the third set with yet another break and never trailed thereafter. It marked his 11th win over a Top-20 player since the start of the 2015 season – the most of any player not ranked in the Top 20. However, until Friday, none of those victories had come against Top-10 competition.
“He makes so many balls and is such a good competitor,” said Sock, who registered 13 aces and 10 forehand winners in the winning effort. “I knew that it was going to be a physical match. My serve was really going to have to help me out. I think I served very well today. I was able to dictate points with my forehand. Hopefully, I can keep playing like that.”