MIKE BRYAN AND JACK SOCK HOPING TO FINISH ON A WINNING NOTE AT NITTO ATP FINALS IN LONDON

Written by: Staff on 14th November 2018

MIKE BRYAN AND JACK SOCK HOPING TO FINISH ON A WINNING NOTE AT NITTO ATP FINALS IN LONDON |

Photo by 10sBalls

By J. Fred Sidhu

LONDON – Time is slipping away as the successful doubles partnership between Mike Bryan and fellow American Jack Sock will come to a conclusion when Bob Bryan rejoins his twin brother on the ATP World Tour in January after undergoing hip surgery earlier this year.

This week however, Sock and Mike Bryan are attempting to close out the 2018 season by winning the doubles title at the Nitto ATP Finals. On Wednesday afternoon at O2 Arena they defeated top-seeded Oliver Marach of Austria and Croatia’s Mate Pavic 6-4, 7-6 (4) in 83 minutes to improve their round-robin record to 2-0 in the Knowles / Nestor group.

The most impressive stat in the straight-set victory was Jack Sock’s dominating serving performance. The 26-year-old native of Lincoln, Neb., dropped only two points in his six service games, which included four service holds at love.

“I thought we both served really well. We didn’t give up too many chances. Jack’s serve was jumping up. We were solid and we made a lot of first volleys,” Bryan said. “They were returning my serve pretty well, but I just came in and played solid and we played a pretty good breaker.”

While Sock and Bryan have not officially clinched a spot in Saturday’s semifinals, they are certainly in the drivers’ seat and will need to win only a single set on Friday in their final round-robin match against Frenchmen Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut to advance.

“In this format, you want to start off strong. We wanted to take the pressure off the next match. It’s a tough mentality going into the last match knowing you just have to play one good set,” Bryan said. “Usually you have to win all your matches, so that’s what we’re (hoping) to do.”

After capturing doubles titles at Wimbledon and the US Open this year, winning the Nitto ATP Finals would be a storybook ending for Sock and Bryan in what may very well be their last tournament together.

“This is a big one. It’s the fifth Slam for sure. It’s good to make the tournament, but to be qualified with the top eight teams and win out is pretty special,” Bryan said. “To finish the year on a high note, it makes the off season that much better.”

For Jack Sock, who has seen his singles ranking slip to No. 106 this year, the opportunity to play doubles with Bryan has been a blessing.

“We’re good friends. It’s fun. I like to play doubles with guys that I know well. It’s more enjoyable on the court. It’s a little bit less stressful. Mike obviously brings a lot of experience, a lot of expertise out there,” Sock said. “I can learn a lot from him. It’s a good time. It was unfortunate that I had to step in. I tried to fill in as best I could.”

As Sock continued to speak about how special it is to be on the same side of the net with Mike, he concluded, “When any tennis fan looks back years down the road and they talk about doubles, the only team they’ll talk about is the Bryans. Just to share the court with one of them and to win a couple of Slams with one of the greatest of all-time in our sport…it’s pretty sweet.”