Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Sock prepares to defend Delray title
DELRAY BEACH — Last year Jack Sock won the Delray Beach Open by default.
This time, he’d rather claim a championship by settling it on the court. Sock returns to defend his title when the event begins today at Delray Beach Tennis Center. A year ago, he won when Milos Raonic withdrew before the finals match because of an injury.
“There’s five matches to win,” Sock said. “I have confidence from last year. Like I said I really enjoy playing there.”
Sock is in a field that also includes Raonic and Juan Martin del Potro, the 2011 champion. Brothers Bob and Mike Bryan, who have won the doubles title four times, are also back for another run in the event.
Sock is attempting to become the first player to win consecutive Delray Beach Open titles since the tournament moved from Coral Springs in 1999. Jason Stoltenberg won back-toback championships in 1996-97.
“I’ve got to worry about my first match on Tuesday or Wednesday and then take it from there,” Sock said. “I’m not going to think about the final until Saturday night.”
Sock, 25, is No. 8 in the ATP world rankings, the highest American. He refuses to get caught up in the label, saying it is more of a talking point for fans and media.
“I think the media loves to talk about it,” Sock said. “When I first got the title I didn’t even know I was the No. 1 American until I saw it on social media. “It’s definitely an honor if you look at the history of tennis. There’s great list of people. It’s not something I lose sleep over if I fall to No. 2 or 3. I have my own individual goals in mind of winning certain tournaments and winning other milestones but obviously being the No. 1 American is definitely a good feeling but it’s not something I talk about that often.”
Sock enters the Delray Beach Open with more than enough motivation. He is coming off disappointing losses in his past two tournaments. He suffered a surprise defeat to Yuichi Sugita Jack Sock, here playing recently at the Australian Open, won last year’s Delray Open by default when his opponent, Milos Raonic, defaulted due to injury before the title match. last month in the second round of the Australian Open. Last November he fell to Grigor Dimotrov in the semifinals of the Nitto ATP Finals in London.
Sock attributes the slow start because of a change in his offseason training schedule. He started later than usual due to schedule commitments, and he also attended close friend John Isner’s wedding.
“I got a late start to my training,” Sock said. “I went down to Australia with not as much confidence in my physical part. The year prior I ended with a month and a half training straight, felt really strong and mentally fresh. This year it was kind of the opposite. I didn’t feel as great physically, mentally I was still a little tired. Everything happened the last few weeks so no excuses at all for my part, just a different feel.”
Sock said he will restructure his offseason schedule and just wants to leave the mishap in the past.
“I know it’s going to be a long year,” Sock said. “Starting in Delray, I have a sevenweek trip coming up. Its’ things like that I need to pick and choose the right time to play based on my mental state my physical state. Since I got back from Melbourne, I trained for a month straight, which we never did. I look different. I feel different in my head. I’m excited to get my season started now and leave January behind me.”