It’s every high school player’s dream to win the state championship, but that was only the beginning for 17-year-old Jack Sock of Blue Valley North in Kansas. After winning the individual and team titles, Sock won the national boys’ championship in Kalamazoo, Mich., which earned him a wild card into the U.S. Open. There, he had a respectable Grand Slam debut, losing 6-1, 6-4, 1-6, 6-1 in the first round to Marco Chiudinelli. But his day in the New York sun wasn’t over. He became Novak Djokovic’s regular warm-up partner at a private court in New Jersey. “His ball is so clean and his movement is crazy,” was Sock’s assessment of the Serb, who returned the compliment after Sock had prepared him for his semifinal win over Roger Federer. “He's only 17, and he hits the ball like a pro,” said the world No. 2. Sock also took the time to play with some kids his own age, and wound up winning the U.S. Open boys' title, the first American to do so since Andy Roddick 10 years ago. Then it was off to finish his senior year, where he'll likely rejoin his high school team—so far he’s 58-0. What keeps Sock playing down on the farm? “Hanging with my teammates,” he says, “helping the school win a state title, trying to be a team leader . . . those are the cool things about high school tennis.”
Originally published in the November/December 2010 issue of TENNIS.
2010 Aces & Faults
—Sock Hopping: Sock goes from high school to pros
—After the Hype, Miller Doesn't Bode Well: Skier tries tennis, again
—Booted: The story of Serena's injured foot
—Match of the Year: The Isner-Mahut Wimbledon epic
—Unwelcome Milestones: American mens' struggles
—Gone...And Back Again: Querrey's quick turnaround
—Swimming the Channel: Rafa does the clay-grass double
—Biggest Disappointment: Dinara Safina
—All in a Day's Work: Blake's beef with Shriver
—Coach of the Year: Hernan Gumy
—Seizing the Clay: Schiavone's unlikely title run
—Struck Out: Soderling ends Federer's semifinal streak
—Comeback, Interrupted: Henin's return cut short
—Wayne's Shame: Odesnik caught with HGH
—Dee Worst, Judge Says: The world's worst player
—Most Improved: Sam Stosur
—Player of the Year: Rafael Nadal
—Newcomer of the Year: Larry Ellison