First Time With Jack Sock

Ahead of his first match as the top seed at the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship, the 2015 Houston champion reveals his first memorable moment on the ATP World Tour and the first time he flew business class.

First moment I realised I loved tennis
Pretty much as soon as I started playing at eight years old. My parents said I was obsessed with it right from the beginning.

First tournament I played
I was nine years old. I grew up in Lincoln (Nebraska), but was playing in Kansas City at a place called The Plaza. I was pretty horrible [smiles], but thought I’d try it just to see how I could do.

First coach and most important lesson he/she taught me
My very first coach in Lincoln was a guy named Magnus Grahn. He taught me a very good backhand, which a lot of people wouldn’t believe today! It was my best shot until I got to my older teens and met my first long-term coach, Mike Wolf, who still helps me in Kansas City to this day. He taught me my forehand grip and changed it over.

First pinch-me moment on the ATP World Tour
Probably playing Andy Roddick at the US Open in 2011. It was Friday night, my first time in Arthur Ashe Stadium, and my first televised match on ESPN. Playing a guy that I grew up watching and kind of idolising was a pretty cool moment.

First pet
We had a couple of samoyed dogs growing up. Big, white ones.

First time I flew business class
The first one I remember internationally, where it really matters [smiles], was my second time going to Australia. I flew there on coach the first time and it was a little rough, but after that, I saw it as a financial investment. It was worth it, for sure.

First concert
It was in 2013. I didn’t really go to a lot of concerts growing up, but saw my first two in one week. I saw John Legend at the Nokia Theatre, and then two nights later saw Beyonce and Jay Z at the Staples Center.