ATP Finals trio caught up in 4am fire alarm call at London hotel
● World No 9 Sock describes episode as ‘15 minutes of freezing miserableness’ but he recovers well to seal victory over Cilic
Jack Sock has told how three of the world’s finest tennis players were left standing outside a London hotel at 4am after a fire alarm went off yesterday morning.
Sock, Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem – the world Nos 9, 1 and 4 respectively – were all made to exit the building in the middle of a week when they are competing at the end-of-season ATP Finals.
Nadal had withdrawn due to a knee injury late on Monday night and Thiem’s next match is not until today, but America’s Sock had to overcome the disruption before beating Marin Cilic later in the afternoon.
“It was probably one of the most annoying noises I’ve ever heard in my entire life,” Sock said.
“Atfirstididn’tknowifitwas a test or whatever. Then I realised it was 4am so I hoped it wasn’t just a test from the hotel.
“I went outside, saw Rafa, saw Dominic, everyone was all bundled up, freezing cold, just wanting to get back inside.
“Everyone obviously put on clothes – it was pretty cold outside – some more than others.
“I probably waited in the room for five to seven minutes, then was probably outside 0 Rafael Nadal: Withdrew late on Monday due to a knee injury. for another five to seven. The whole thing was probably 15 minutes of freezing, miserableness.”
Sock showed little sign of fatigue against Cilic though and, as well as claiming his own debut victory at London’s O2 Arena, he became the first American to triumph at the ATP Finals since Andy Roddick in 2007.
Cilic had thrown away a break in the decider to lose against Alexander Zverev on Sunday and he managed the same again as Sock fought back to win 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (7/4).
The 25-year-old may still have to beat Zverev in his final group match to qualify.
Cilic will play his last roundrobin match against Roger Federer, to whom he lost in the Wimbledon final earlier this year. The Croatian, who led Sock 3-0 in the decider, stands on the brink of elimination.
“It is frustrating, absolutely, at the beginning of the third set I played well,” Cilic said.
“It’s definitely disappointing in both matches in that third set after being in a good position and putting myself in a good position. But unfortunately I didn’t close it.”
The absence of Nadal, meanwhile, is a shame not only for his brilliant season, that has included two more grand slam triumphs, but also this tournament.
The focus for the Spaniard will now be to regain fitness for the Australian Open in January and he hopes his experience of knee injuries might smooth the recovery.
“I know what I have to do,” Nadal said. “The good thing is it is nothing new. Everybody on my team, we have the right experience on this thing. We hope to manage it well, to have the right rest, the right work, and try to be ready for the beginning of the next season.”
He added he knew he was going to withdraw even during the match against David Goffin which he lost on Monday night. “I knew during the match, [it] is not a decision I take five minutes ago,” Nadal said. “Even winning, even losing, I was going to pull out because I was not enjoying on court at all.” Katie Archibald will be back in action at the next round of the Track World Cup in Canada next month after winning two gold medalsandasilverinmanchester at the weekend.
The 23-year-old has been named in Great Britain’s squad to travel to Milton along with fellow Olympic champions Callum Skinner and Phil Hindes.
Milngavie’s Archibald will compete in the women’s endurance events alongside teenager Ellie Dickinson. The men’s endurance squad includes Ollie Wood, Chris Latham and Mark Stewart.
Skinner and Hindes will compete in the men’s sprint events with young trio Jack Carlin, Ryan