SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER!
Search:
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
Latest News
Featured News
Book Reviews
Videos
ATP Singles
ATP Doubles
WTA Singles
WTA Doubles
News
Scores
Rankings
Lucky Letcord Podcast
Shop
Pro Gear
Pickleball
Gear Sale
Popular This Week
Gauff: People Underestimate Americans on Clay
Watch: Federer Opens Curtain on Farewell in New Amaz...
ABC to Televise US Open Men's Final for First Time
Medvedev on Roland Garros: The More Open, the Better...
Champions and Celebs Shine at HJTEP 52nd Charity Gal...
RG Wild Cards: Thiem, Schwartzman, Halep Denied
Andy Murray Switches to Yonex Racquets
Net Posts
Industry Insider
Second Serve
Add to Flipboard Magazine.
Video: Different Side of Sock
Jack Sock
is trying to show a different side of himself these days.
The 37th-ranked American's menacing serve and massive forehand form the foundation of his game, but the backhand has played a supporting role in Sock's trip to the Washington, D.C. quarterfinals.
Video:
Cilic, Nishikori Continue U.S. Open Quest with D.C. Wins
In tennis, you're only as strong as your weakest link. Sock surprised
Richard Gasquet
cracking successive strikes off his weaker wing—the two-handed backhand—to save a pair of break points down 2-4 in the second set.
That backhand stand sparked Sock to a 6-7 (4), 7-6 (5), 6-4 comeback win over the 13th-ranked Frenchman sending him into the quarterfinals against compatriot
Steve Johnson
.
"My most improved shot, my backhand, helped me out there when I was down those two break points and I was able to turn it around," Sock said afterward. "It's a side people thought they could just go to and hurt me with and obviously now I think I'm showing that's not the case any more."
Sock still runs around his backhand to unleash his twisting topspin forehand he can use to command the center of the court. His inside-out forehand will always be his signature shot. In his zeal to run around the backhand, Sock wound up firing a few forehands from the doubles alley, but says stabilizing his backhand is a matter of trust.
"I think it's more just trust, honestly," Sock said. A lot of people have always talked about my serve and forehand, those are my strengths that I have. I run around a lot of backhands still, but when it comes to that side, I might have been a little tentative before but now I'm trusting it more and really going after it."
It will be a battle of forehands when Sock and Johnson square off though managing the backhand will be important for both. Johnson tends to place the slice backhand more, while Sock can struggle to create the sharp angle crosscourt from his two-hander.
Sock and Johnson square off in the first all-American DC quarterfinal since 2003 when Andre Agassi played James Blake and Andy Roddick took on Mardy Fish in a pair of quarterfinals.
"I think we're both playing pretty well right now. Especially on a surface, like this, in the U.S. we're both playng here," Sock said. "It should be a fun match. I'm just happy, honestly, that we've got some Americans advancing. It should be a good battle."
Posted:
Latest News
Sabalenka Sets Rematch with Swiatek in Rome Final
Jarry, Tabilo Make History for Chile in Rome
Swiatek Solves Gauff to Reach Rome Final with 11th S...
Pain Cure: Paul Fights off Hurkacz for First Rome Se...
Zverev Rising in Rome
Surging Collins Powers into Rome Semis
TENNISNOW.COM
News
Blogs
Vlogs
Forums
Arcade
Members
TENNIS NOW TV
Daily News Vlog
Gear Guide
Catching Up With...
Feeds
News Feed
Blog Feed
TV Feed
ON TOUR
Scores
Player Profiles
ATP Calendar
WTA Calendar
TV Listings
PARTNERS
Instructional
Find Tennis Lessons Near You
Tennis Lessons Online with Tom Avery
Fuzzy Yellow Balls - Video Tennis Lessons
Tennis Gear
Tennis Express - Racquets, Shoes, and Apparel
About Us
|
Contact Us
|
Links Directory
|
Privacy Policy