Sock Flying The Flag For America In London

Jack Sock might be the only non-European at the Nitto ATP Finals this year, but he certainly isn’t out of place. 

Having earned his place at the prestigious year-end event in London on the back of a surprising title run at the Rolex Paris Masters, Sock is flying the American flag amidst a field of Europeans. Although they might not share the same continent, they’ll share the same court over the next week of exciting matchups at The O2 arena in Britain’s capital.

Not since 2011 has an American qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals, when Mardy Fish capped off a sensational season with three tight matches at the round robin stage, and Sock’s victory in Paris, which halted a run of 69-straight ATP Masters 1000 titles won by Europeans, might just signal a continental changing of the guard in tennis.

“[Europe is] producing some amazing players year after year, but I think we have a great group of young guys coming up,” said Sock. “We’ve got a good group of us now that are holding steady at the top and a good wave coming through behind, so hopefully for the years to come there will be some change to that. 

“Obviously, being patriotic, I wish some of my friends were here, the other American guys, but [I’m] definitely excited for the week and ready to get things going on Sunday.”

Sock would be the first to admit that it hasn’t been the consistent year he had anticipated. Following an electric start to the season that saw him claim two titles and deep runs at the Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells and Miami, the 25-year-old’s results dipped disappointingly, particularly at events on home soil. 

But did he ever imagine himself qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals?

“Through April, yeah, I envisioned being here – from June through November, maybe not,” said Sock, assessing his season. It was a good start to the year, kind of a rougher middle part and beginning to the fall and then obviously an amazing week to cap off what I thought was going to be my last week of the season.”

Although his odds were a long shot going into the Rolex Paris Masters, where he was ranked a far-off 24^th in the Emirates ATP Race to London, Sock seized control of an open draw to defeat surprise finalist Filip Krajinovic, instantly qualifying him for the season-ending event.

“Going into Paris I was honestly hoping to play some matches and was getting ready to regroup mentally and get ready for my off-season at home. I genuinely had no idea mathematically that I could make London after the five, six-month stretch I had there in the middle to the end of the season,” said the American.

“It wasn’t until after the match I played Lucas Pouille in Paris that someone in the media mentioned ‘if you happen to win this week you can still make London,’” he added. “I kind of laughed it off and then was just focusing on one match at a time. Obviously the closer it got and the farther I got in the draw then it became more of a reality and was definitely a motivation there at the end of the week.

Sock’s Nitto ATP Finals campaign sees him in Group Boris Becker alongside Marin Cilic, Alexander Zverev and Roger Federer, who earlier in the season noted Sock’s penchant for playing on the biggest stages – and when the two face off against each other on Sunday, it will be put to the test.

“That’s a fair assessment by Roger, I do enjoy playing in front of a lot of people,” said Sock. “I think I have a fairly entertaining game … so I’m definitely looking forward to showcasing it and getting out there this weekend and into next week.”