SOCK AND POSPISIL VS. BRYAN BROTHERS QUICKLY BECOMING TOP-NOTCH DOUBLES RIVALRY BY RICKY DIMON

Written by: Staff on 20th March 2015

SOCK AND POSPISIL VS. BRYAN BROTHERS QUICKLY BECOMING TOP-NOTCH DOUBLES RIVALRY BY RICKY DIMON |

Vasek Pospisil and Jack Sock during their match against the Bryan Brothers at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, Califronia.

It’s safe to say Jack Sock has found the right doubles partner. Look no further than his record against Bob and Mike Bryan to prove that point.

In five meetings against the Bryan Brothers prior to teaming up with Vasek Pospisil, Sock compiled an 0-5 record and an 0-10 mark in total sets. Among the futile set scores: 6-0, 6-1, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2, and 6-1.

To say Pospisil has helped Sock turn the tide would be an understatement. The charismatic combination has faced the Bryans three times since last summer and boasts a 2-1 record after pulling off a 6-4, 6-4 upset in the BNP Paribas Open quarterfinals on Thursday night.

“I think we just played a pretty flawless match today,” Pospisil said in an on-court interview. “Jack has been playing great all week. We were so excited to be on the court and we were enjoying ourselves. That was the main thing.”

Sock agreed. “We love playing doubles and with the success we’ve had, we’re obviously going to continue to play for a while, I hope,” the American commented. “It’s a big part of our success. We stay very relaxed, smiling, joking around. It keeps it light. We play loose and are able to hit our shots.”

Sock’s most famous shot, of course, came on match point in the 2014 Wimbledon final–also against the Bryan Brothers. With Mike serving at 5-6, ad-out in the fifth set, Sock ran around his backhand and cracked a down-the-line forehand winner past Bob. It gave the unseeded, first-time pairing a 7-6(5), 6-7(3), 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 triumph.

And it capped off a dream run that came perilously close to never happening.

“I sent [Vasek] a text a few weeks before Wimbledon,” Sock reflected, “and said, ‘Hey, do you want to play doubles? I actually needed his help to get in based on ranking. I was fortunate enough to have him play with me.”

Pospisil almost didn’t. He had been plagued by a back injury all season long and wavered on whether or not to add doubles to his Wimbledon schedule. The Canadian opted in favor of playing, and the rest is history.

Speaking of history, the Bryan Brothers are still going strong despite their relative struggles against the team affectionately known as “Popsocks.” Bob and Mike captured their 100th title at the 2014 U.S. Open, completing a successful summer during which they also prevailed in Cincinnati–where they beat Sock and Pospisil in the final. They also won the World Tour Finals and lifted another trophy earlier this season in Delray Beach.

Bryan Brothers at the 2015 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif..

How about a Bryans-Popsocks encore in Miami? Yes, please.

Editors note : too bad the match got moved from a day match to a night match. The Bryan’s are older and would have benefited from playing with day light versus under the lights. It was a great match. Pospisil was ruthless at the net. Great hands and feel and anticipation.

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: BNP Paribas Open, Bryan Brothers, Indian Wells, jack sock, Popsocks, Ricky Dimon, Tennis, Vasek Pospisil

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10sBalls_com says:

March 20, 2015 at 11:11 am

@JackSock AND @VasekPospisil VS. @Bryanbrothers QUICKLY BECOMING TOP-NOTCH #DOUBLES RIVALRY BY @Dimonator – http://t.co/U9E5w2DoFk #BNPPO15
Dimonator says:

March 20, 2015 at 11:22 am

RT @10sBalls_com: @JackSock AND @VasekPospisil VS. @Bryanbrothers QUICKLY BECOMING TOP-NOTCH #DOUBLES RIVALRY BY @Dimonator – http://t.co/U…