Sock snatches ATP Finals spot with Paris title

American Jack Sock snatched the last spot in the eight-man field for the season-ending ATP Finals when he beat Serbian qualifier Filip Krajinovic 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 to win the Paris Masters title on Sunday.

The 16th-seeded Sock became the first American to win the singles title at the event since Andre Agassi in 1999.

Sock, who started the week in 24th position in the Race to London, needed to win the title to leapfrog Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta to ensure he will play in the November 12-19 event in London. He did just that with a solid performance, wearing down the defense of world No. 77 Krajinovic.

Sock joins World No. 1 Rafael Nadal of Spain, six-time Swiss champion Roger Federer, debutants Alexander Zverev of Germany, Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov and David Goffin of Belgium, and former qualifiers Austria’s Dominic Thiem and Croatia’s Marin Cilic.

“I obviously snuck into... London unexpectedly, so zero pressure on me to go there,” said Sock, the first American man to make it into the singles draw of the season-finale since Mardy Fish in 2011. “I’m going to swing big and play my game, like I always do, and just honestly enjoy the moment.”

Despite the defeat, Krajinovic will climb to a career-high No. 33 in the rankings on Monday and the 25-year-old is aiming higher.

“I know that I will work even more right now. That’s for sure. Pressure is part of the sport,” he said. “Everybody has pressure in life. Of course, I am going to have more. People will expect more from me right now. They see I can do it.

“But if I want to be better, I have to handle that. So I will work PO UIBU BMTP 4P * IPQF OFYU ZFBS XJMM CF CFUUFS u