Sock takes tourney as Raonic cedes with torn hamstring
DELRAY BEACH — Top-seeded and world No. 4 Milos Raonic was scheduled to face Jack Sock for the 11th time Sunday afternoon, with the Delray Beach Open championship going to the winner. But Raonic was forced to pull out with a torn right hamstring, awarding Sock the title in a disappointing conclusion to a highly competitive week of tennis on West Atlantic Avenue.
It was the first time in the tournament’s 25-year history that a walkover determined the champion, and it came as a surprise for Raonic, who defeated Juan Martin del Potro 7-5, 7-5, in a Saturday evening semifinal.
“I didn’t think much of it last night,” Raonic said. “Early in the second set I ran to one of his drop shots and felt my hip tightening up. l thought I’d get some sleep and it would pass, but I felt a strong pain in my right hamstring. I woke up (Sunday) morning not able to walk and we did two hours of therapy without much progress. It was later diag- nosed as a slight tear of my right hamstring and so I was unable to compete in the final unfortunately.”
“So di sappointing in a lot of ways,” Raonic said. “It was my decision in the end. I have that self-awareness to know what an injury feels like. I have been unfortunate with injuries lately. Three tournaments in a row I have sustained some muscle damage.
“T h i s t i me, I was o n e match away from a title so it was not like a second or a third round. Not being able to compete is not easy to accept. I’ve never pulled out of a final before. Maybe I came back too soon and there could be a relationship between these last injuries. It’s just too early to tell. But I had a great experience here and definitely plan to return.”
Fo r S o c k , i t m e a n t a $ 9 0,6 05 p ay c h e c k , 2 5 0 points, his second ATP title of 2017 and a three-spot jump in the rankings to No. 18 in the world. But the disappointment of being a walkover champion was evident in a hastily arranged post-match press conference.
“It was not ideal for either side,” Sock said. “He seemed to be moving OK last night. It is very unfortunate for him. We always have good battles. He’s got the better of me most times, but on the flip side, a title is a title, although this was a weird way to win one.”
Now it’s on to Acapulco for Sock, with an opportunity to keep momentum on his side. Is cracking the Top 10, or perhaps c apturing an elusive Grand Slam, in Sock’s future?
“My goal is entering and playing ever y week,” he said. “I am ready to make the jump. My tennis is speaking for itself so far this year.”
Raveen Klassen and Rajeev Ram captured the Delray doubles title with a 7-5, 7-5 win over Treat Mirnyi and Treat Huey. Ram picked up his third Delray trophy, having won in doubles here in 2011 and finishing as a singles runner-up in 2016.
“I got a little one last year so it’s nice to come back and get a big one,” Ram said. “For whatever reason, I’ve played some of my better tennis here. The conditions suit me pretty well.”