Americans pick up the singles slack in doubles at Wimbledon by Ricky Dimon

Written by: Staff on 6th July 2014

Americans pick up the singles slack in doubles at Wimbledon by Ricky Dimon |

For the first time since 1911, not a single American man or woman reached the fourth round in the Wimbledon singles events. In men’s doubles, however, the United States made some noise.

That is, of course, nothing new. After all, Bob and Mike Bryan have been to 26 Grand Slam finals and have captured 15 major titles. This time around, though, they had some unexpected company at the All-England Club from one of their compatriots.

Jack Sock teamed up with another North American, Canada’s Vasek Pospisil, and made a surprising run to Saturday’s doubles championship against the Bryan Brothers. Despite being heavy underdogs, Sock and Pospisil pulled off a 7-6(5), 6-7(3), 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 upset.

Sock is the first American man other than the Bryan brothers since Don Johnson and Jared Palmer at the 2001 U.S. Open to win a men’s Grand Slam doubles title.

Sock and Pospisil are also the first team born in the 1990s to win a major doubles title. For the 21-year-old American, he is the third youngest man behind John McEnroe and Todd Woodbridge to win both a men’s doubles and mixed doubles Grand Slam title. Sock triumphed with Melanie Oudin at the 2011 U.S. Open.

“Those are two good players,” Bob said of Sock and Pospisil. “They’re great athletes. They both have bright futures on the singles court, as well. Whenever they step out there on the doubles court they’re going to be a tough team to beat. Both guys serve well. They know how to move at the net. They know how to poach. They’re not afraid to get in there and get dirty on the volleys. A lot of firepower.”

“We had a lot of fun,” Sock explained. “People could see that. I think that’s part of why we did well. We really enjoyed being out there, enjoyed the moment. It was both of our first times on Centre Court there. As kids we grew up watching this tournament. This is what we kind of dreamed of doing. To be able to go out there and play the best doubles team of all time and to get a win was pretty incredible.”

Both Sock and Pospisil are signed up for singles at the BB&T Atlanta Open, the first stop on the U.S. Open Series beginning later this month. It is not yet known if they will pair up again for doubles in Atlanta.

Topics: American tennis news, Bob Bryan, Bryan Brothers, Canada tennis news, jack sock, Mike Bryan, Sports, Vasek Posipisil, Wimbldon doubles, Wimbledon Champions

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10sBalls_com says:

July 6, 2014 at 6:01 pm

Americans pick up the singles slack in doubles at @Wimbledon by @RD_Tennistalk – http://t.co/XVdUoZ1FSO @JackSock @VasekPospisil #Wimbledon
RD_Tennistalk says:

July 6, 2014 at 6:03 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: Americans pick up the singles slack in doubles at @Wimbledon by @RD_Tennistalk – http://t.co/XVdUoZ1FSO @JackSock @VasekP…