Jack Sock is the future of tennis
- Thread starter sureshs
- Start date
Completely agree. But stan made it work tho after his separation of course
Purplemonster
Hall of Fame
Stan wasn't 18 years old though.
Dolgopolov85
G.O.A.T.
If he does win something, it's more likely to happen at the slow slams.
YellowFedBetter
Hall of Fame
Hey sorry I didn't get to respond to this until now, I don't give that info out to anyone, no offense personally of course. Best I can tell you is the Eastern US. But yeah, I hear you, it stinks not getting more opportunities though I'm glad to hear you at least manage to get in that much. This country really needs red clay and better infrastructure for young players, whether it's pros or just rec players.
ComeBackKimiko
Rookie
You would describe Sock as not an attacking player? Really?
Of all the criticisms that could be made of him, that one seems the most implausible.
ComeBackKimiko
Rookie
ComeBackKimiko
Rookie
Seriously, where in the US is it hard to find a tennis court to play on for free?
There are regions where the weather prevents outdoor play for a few months a year, but literally, even if you drive deep into the ghetto there are public tennis courts.
Of all the problems in US tennis, I am sure that "only rich people have access to tennis courts" is NOT one of them.
YellowFedBetter
Hall of Fame
Access to tennis courts are not the problem, correct, but finding people to consistently play with and affordable training for up and comers is a BIG problem.
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ComeBackKimiko
Rookie
That surprises me because as an individual sport, I would think tennis is ideal for low-overhead development; the logistics are so much easier.
I was deeply involved in US youth soccer, which is an absolute snakepit pay-to-play "racket" (no pun intended), but the logistics of getting 22+ players together for one game, or 500 players together for a half-decent weekend tournament, makes it understandable in a way how things turned out that way. Also the inherent soul-sucking parent-coach politics of team sports with playing time and favoritism and such.
I can't think of any logical reason for tennis to have any of those problems; it should be literally 11 times less complicated (at least) to develop an elite tennis player than an elite soccer player.
I confess I'm not informed on how it actually works in youth tennis these days, but just looking at it from the perspective of the youth sport I know best, it seems like a cinch by comparison. Grass is always greener...
But since both of these youth sports are currently famous for their inability to produce world class top-tier talents from the US, there must be some similarities I am overlooking.
YellowFedBetter
Hall of Fame
Should be a cinch, but unfortunately it isn't.
MasturB
Legend
It's been a while since I watched one of his matches. What I remember was try to serve big and blast the forehand. Everything else looked not so pretty. Maybe his tactics have changed.
Tshooter
G.O.A.T.
I can tell from your description "deep in the ghetto" that you're well travelled.
In any case, try Manhattan.
ComeBackKimiko
Rookie
I can tell from your description "deep in the ghetto" that you're well travelled.
In any case, try Manhattan.
Well-traveled? Sounds like some kind of dig, but I'm not sure what point you are making.
Anyway, I could believe Manhattan is short of public tennis courts but that's quite an outlier for density in the US. I know that youth soccer also struggles with securing field space in NYC. Don't think that's a representative locality.
The vast majority of Americans probably have ready access to public tennis courts for free, other than those in the most rural or (possibly) the highest-density urban areas. I live in a densely-populated city and we have have plenty of public courts, about half of which are deep in the ghetto, or "centrally located in the most low-income areas of the city" if you prefer. In other words, there is no barrier to non-rich people accessing tennis courts. I'm sure accessing training is a whole different story and I'm not defending the player development model. But, in my experience, the physical infrastructure is out there for everyone, which is the point someone raised earlier. I don't think courts are the reason we can't do better than a Sock or Isner recently. That's the point I was making.
EdMcMush
Professional
Although I love Sock and have a bunch of Jack Sock for president crap laying around and a stars and stripes vs. I see his ceiling as an 7-15 ranked guy who can make a quaterfinal, and a semi if the draw opens. Huge weapons, but does not have all the weapons. Zverv is the next true star
Vanilla Slice
Professional
He’s not the hero Americans necessarily want...
But he’s the hero we need
But he’s the hero we need
el sergento
Hall of Fame
Never watched much of Sock until this WTF. I must say, you can tell he plays doubles, the dude has hands. However, until he fixes that two-hander, he's essentially the white Tsonga. So yeah, unless the field gets seriously weaker, I expect a Tsonga + level career with maybe a US upen thrown in there.
He'll take it....1 major would do him nicely!
Mainad
Bionic Poster
smalahove
Hall of Fame
Some of his drop volleys were beyond epic.
His THBH on return of serves is pretty good; the one that fails him is when he has time set up from the baseline, and put some pace on it. Way too many UEs on what should be a simple shot, but it looks to me, more of a mental thing.
No but the man is Jack Shock.
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
not sure Sock is fast enough to be one of the greats or top 3 player ....
HTHBHIPA (His THBH is probably awesome. What's his THBH?
toby55555
Hall of Fame
He’s top 10 now. Personally having watched a lot of him I don’t see a GS champ, even when the big three retire there will be others who can exploit his backhand.
Two handed backhand.....
10iss_Nut
New User
Agreed. Correction... top 5er!! LOL. We will see...
kabob
Hall of Fame
That's just not true. All the major US tennis academies offer scholarships to promising students whose families can't afford tuition. The kids also can pick up sponsors and fund raise.
kabob
Hall of Fame
His girlfriend was, though
10iss_Nut
New User
Well said!
Mugu
Rookie
same goes for Tiafoe. lot of talent there. you just never know who's going to get it together.
Mugu
Rookie
he's not my favorite, but i'm rooting for sock. mainly because he's a good doubles player and i'd love it he would continue to play as his singles
career takes off. it would be great if he could be a catalyst to go back to the days when the top singles guys played grand slam doubles. it seems like
those days are gone forever and i think it's a shame.
career takes off. it would be great if he could be a catalyst to go back to the days when the top singles guys played grand slam doubles. it seems like
those days are gone forever and i think it's a shame.
Except it is Rajeev Ram, so it was not minimal.
Andy Ram was more minimal.
Nothing to beat Li Na of course.
BHServe
Semi-Pro
Very well analysed, tsonga comparison is spot on
jaggy
Talk Tennis Guru
Good point, I liked to call him Rajjy
That is because the Scots like Haggis
cluckcluck
Hall of Fame
Except that a player has to apply and go through the ringer to get the scholarship (and there's only 5 scholarships per year it appears).
kabob
Hall of Fame
What academy are you referring to?
cluckcluck
Hall of Fame
Bolletterri specifically.
Shaolin
G.O.A.T.
No one beats Li Na.
funny, Sock wins paris and 2 WTF matches and now he is picked to win 2 slams in 2018 by TT experts.
Ok, Sock might win a slam or 2 or 3 but
1. his BH is not top 20 quality and this will hurt him.
2. he doesn't seem to be the best problem solver on court. OK, he has hung tough in WTF but frequently, he looks confused and defeated on court.
3. related to number 2, I am not sure he is a tactical genius. he has excellent hands and can volley but is he smart enough to use this? will he mix in S&V at the right times? will he close points to protect his BH?
4. his FH is a monster with a load of spin but will he have time to hit this on fast courts? usually, the cleaner players like Federer and Djokovic do better on hard courts.
Maybe Sock is just on fire now because he is traveling with his sexy new girl friend. Sometimes that can inspire a young guy if this old guy is remembering correctly.
Anyhow, I would say Sock has a decent shot at a slam or 2 or 3 but don't look for him to dominate with a boat load of slams unless he can either improve the BH and/or improve tactics to compensate for the BH.
Ok, Sock might win a slam or 2 or 3 but
1. his BH is not top 20 quality and this will hurt him.
2. he doesn't seem to be the best problem solver on court. OK, he has hung tough in WTF but frequently, he looks confused and defeated on court.
3. related to number 2, I am not sure he is a tactical genius. he has excellent hands and can volley but is he smart enough to use this? will he mix in S&V at the right times? will he close points to protect his BH?
4. his FH is a monster with a load of spin but will he have time to hit this on fast courts? usually, the cleaner players like Federer and Djokovic do better on hard courts.
Maybe Sock is just on fire now because he is traveling with his sexy new girl friend. Sometimes that can inspire a young guy if this old guy is remembering correctly.
Anyhow, I would say Sock has a decent shot at a slam or 2 or 3 but don't look for him to dominate with a boat load of slams unless he can either improve the BH and/or improve tactics to compensate for the BH.
S
SafinSucks
Guest
Federev
G.O.A.T.
Sentinel
Bionic Poster
So if Jack Sock wins the WTF, you will acknowledge that it is equal to a couple of slams ?
..
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