Sock Returns To Site Of Emotional Breakthrough

Houston will always be a special place for Jack Sock, not merely for being the site of his first ATP World Tour title. Hoisting that Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship in 2015 capped a successful return from pelvis surgery in only his third event of the season.

But it marked a tribute to a much deeper struggle. His brother, Eric, had just survived a serious bout of pneumonia and Lemierre’s syndrome, sparked by a bacterial sore throat infection. It left him in intensive care for three weeks in January last year and on a ventilator for another week.

“There was definitely a lot going on,” Sock said on Monday. “That was the start of my year – Indian Wells, Miami and then here obviously was to kind of cap off that first stretch of tournaments.

“For me, post-surgery and my brother, post-illness, finally feeling better, a big goal of mine last year was to win a title and then I did it at one of my favourite tournaments in this city. To do it that early gave me a lot of confidence for the rest of the year.

“I know every player loves it here. It’s why you feel it every year. Houston will always be a special place for me.”

The 22-year-old American has a first-round bye before beginning his title defence against countryman and NextGen star Frances Tiafoe or Australian qualifier Matthew Barton. The No. 2 American behind John Isner, Sock arrives with Round of 32 losses in Indian Wells and Miami.

“Got that first match win in both and then ran into (Dominic) Thiem (in Indian Wells), who’s pretty red-hot this year – I think he’s got the most wins out of anyone,” Sock said. “We played two tight sets and then he kind of ran away with it in the third. He played better that day in the third set.

“(In Miami), Milos (Raonic) again, I feel like I’ve seen that match over and over. I think it’s like the seventh or eighth time I’ve played him and it’s been close.”

With his good friend, World No. 15 Isner, still 10 spots clear of him in the Emirates ATP Rankings as the No.1 American, Sock realises he still has a way to go to make up ground on his 30-year-old countryman.

“The results go up and down. Unless you’re Novak (Djokovic) you’re losing most weeks,” Sock said of his bid to improve. “I think John’s got hopefully a few more years in him. He had a good year last year. He’s tough to play on any surface.

“Obviously, a goal of mine is to be the top-ranked American so I’m going to have to play some great tennis and keep having those breakout results to get there.”