You Don’t Know Jack?

Last spring he was practicing with Roger Federer in Miami. Andy Roddick commented on his rowdy, youthful energy before they met in last year’s U.S. Open, a tournament he gained entry into by winning the U.S. Open Junior Boys singles title in 2011. So why haven’t more Memphians heard of the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships wildcard player, Jack Sock? While Sock’s early accomplishments are quickly making a name for him within the world-wide tennis community, its time the average sports fan learns a little bit more about the future of American tennis.

Much like another great American tennis star and Regions Morgan Keegan Championships player, Andy Roddick, nineteen-year-old Sock hails from Lincoln, Nebraska. Roddick even casually joked last summer that he and Sock were “the only two teenagers to play tennis in Nebraska in the last 30 years… maybe we need the corn-fed boys.” Their home state isn’t the only similarity between the vet and the newcomer. Additionally they both won the U.S. Open Junior Boys singles title; a win Roddick followed up with the 2003 U.S. Open title, making him the last American to prevail in a men’s singles Grand Slam. Could Sock be destined for the same result?

While Roddick remarked that he and young Sock had similar playing styles, saying, “[Sock] kind of has the half take up with the serve. He’s got the flailing elbow on the forehand and the backhand.” Sock feels that he and top-ranked, Nadal actually have a more similar playing style, stating in an interview last year, “Nadal prefers the forehand to the backhand and hits with incredible spin. I also like to hit with more spin than pace and prefer my forehand.”

In his young career, Sock has managed to achieve something his fellow Husker has not – he won a mixed doubles title at the 2011 U.S. Open with fellow American and former Memphis International player, Melanie Oudin. If the pressure to become one of the next greats in American tennis is mounting on him, Sock is definitely keeping a level head. Like many other young up-and-comers in the sport, Sock seems keenly aware that a good performance in Memphis could be his catalyst to a larger stage.

"I'll be looking to get ready for ATP events in San Jose and Memphis," Sock stated. "I have main draw wildcards there and I'm looking forward to that.”

You can see Jack Sock partner with John McEnroe, Monday February 20 in a Doubles Exhibition against fellow Americans James Blake and Sam Querrey. Individual tickets to the 2012 Regions Morgan Keegan Championships are on sale now and available at The Racquet Club of Memphis, online at Ticketmaster or by calling (901) 765-4401.