wild cards and jack sock

[tipsytime]

i'm new here. hello to all.

i wanted to talk about something on my mind and hopefully get some responses.

first, i like jack sock. i think he has some real talent and can produce some good results eventually. but i'm not sure if getting wild cards to one challenger/tour level tournament after another is the best way to try to improve ones's game and/or move up the rankings.

i know he played florida futures in january and did well. good job. go overseas and play more futures. get that ranking up.

he was wild carded into dallas, san jose... and also memphis next week.
why should higher ranked players like denis kudla or jesse levine have to play qualies every week and jack gets straight in? just because he is playing a exhibition with mcenroe?

i think that paying your dues early pays off in the long run. i believe that's why foreign players who have far less wild card opportunities are dominating this sport now.

so this is my opinion and i'm interested to read what everyone else thinks about this.

thanks.

 

[kishnabe]

Jack Sock won US Open Junior Title and Mixed Doubles Title.....it means a lot to USTA. Look what happened to Young....the guy has 2 junior slam titles....and they are giving him WC here and there. Though that has stopped to an extent.

Maybe he needs wins for confidence, more than improvement.

 

[tipsytime]

i realize the mixed title is pretty much why he is getting them. looks like he might be headed to a stellar career as a doubles specialist.

 

[woodrow1029]

Jack Sock won US Open Junior Title and Mixed Doubles Title.....it means a lot to USTA. Look what happened to Young....the guy has 2 junior slam titles....and they are giving him WC here and there. Though that has stopped to an extent.

Maybe he needs wins for confidence, more than improvement.

It stopped with Young because he is a direct entry to these events now. Sock will continue to play futures and qualifying events at challengers and tour events, but the USTA seems to be pushing him at the challengers with wildcards, and the ATP events tournament directors seem to like him as well, so he will get those opportunities.

I am sure Kudla will get some chances too. He played really well against Roddick last night.

 

[joeri888]

Still, it's kind of interesting argument that you actually need to learn the Futures and challenger grind, rather than just move up through wildcards.

 

[woodrow1029]

Still, it's kind of interesting argument that you actually need to learn the Futures and challenger grind, rather than just move up through wildcards.

I agree, and he will, especially if he doesn't start producing results. He's got a good game, and like Kish said, he needs to develop some confidence, and playing futures, and coming through qualies will do that for him.

 

[tipsytime]

Still, it's kind of interesting argument that you actually need to learn the Futures and challenger grind, rather than just move up through wildcards.

correct me if i'm wrong, but there is a reason you can get points for playing qualifiers but not for losing in 1st round of main draws.

 

[tipsytime]

i was glad kudla (who came through qualies) beat sock in the first round. and i know sock is maybe somewhat injured right now.

i also heard jesse levine say in his interview after his challenger win in dallas that he would have liked to go play san jose but couldn't because he had to play the final. i feel bad for levine...

 

[Murrayalmagrofan]

Welcome! Like you, I'm new around here as well.

I have to say that I agree with you re: Jack Sock. Playing the Futures/Challenger circuit is definitley necessary in the maturing/development process of a professional tennis player. Finding a way to win against a variety of styles will only serve to make you a solid tennis player in the future.

Sam Querrey and James Blake still regularly play Challenger tournaments. Why shouldn't Jack?

 

[tipsytime]

i just want our young players to focus on becoming excellent players instead of trying to become stars. if you have good results, you will be a star. or you can go the route of kournikova.

 

[Tammo]

I know that Isner got quite a few WC's, and he also earned them in the Slams. Look at where his is now, #14 in the rankings.

 

[tipsytime]

isner also went to college and i'm not opposed to helping out some top players as they come out of school at age 21 or 22.
isner also won about everything he played in his first 2-3 months out on tour.
but if you want to be a "player" at 19 and not go to school, play the futures and qualies and earn your way.

 

[tipsytime]

Isner began his professional career in earnest in the summer of 2007. With a world ranking of no. 839, he needed wildcard entries into the main draws of every tournament, even at the Futures level.[5]

He won his first tournament of the fall, the USA F14 Futures, beating the top three seeds along the way. Then, after first round losses in an Challenger-level and an ATP-level tournament, he beat five top-300 players and three seeds to win the Lexington Challenger in July to improve his ranking to no. 416 after just one month.

At the following week's tournament at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington, D.C., Fernando González's late withdrawal freed a wildcard spot, which was given at the last minute to Isner.[6] Isner took full advantage of his good fortune, recording his first wins over top-100 players. He won third-set tiebreakers on five consecutive days, beating no. 73 Tim Henman, no. 47 Benjamin Becker, no. 189 qualifier Wayne Odesnik, no. 12 Tommy Haas, and no. 54 Gaël Monfils, to reach the final, where he fell to fellow American Andy Roddick. His incredible week raised his ranking to no. 193 in the world after just six weeks on the pro tour.

(from wiki)

 

[woodrow1029]

Why go overseas and play futures when he can get the experience of playing higher level players at tougher tournaments, in his home country. Don't get me wrong, I don't completely disagree with you, but I think there is still valuable experience to be gained at the tour level.

Who would have been a better choice for the wildcard that Sock received?

 

[tipsytime]

I know that Isner got quite a few WC's, and he also earned them in the Slams. Look at where his is now, #14 in the rankings.

isner's form was clearly way above his ranking and deserved the wildcards. i think this is generally not the case.

 

[tipsytime]

Why go overseas and play futures when he can get the experience of playing higher level players at tougher tournaments, in his home country. Don't get me wrong, I don't completely disagree with you, but I think there is still valuable experience to be gained at the tour level.

Who would have been a better choice for the wildcard that Sock received?

Jesse Levine. Denis Kudla.

 

[woodrow1029]

Jesse Levine. Denis Kudla.

How would Kudla be different? Levine, maybe, but maybe he did not ask for a wildcard. He's not one that I would think would just pop into the head of a tournament director, especially when he hasn't had great results (winning Dallas doesn't really factor into the decision as the wildcards had already been handed out). Sock this year has won a futures, made the semis of another, and a challenger quarterfinal. He's having a good start to the year, and the crowd likes him. Doesn't seem like a bad choice after all.

 

[tipsytime]

jack sock is not a bad choice, i agree. i just think that there may be better ones. my point is, why 3 tournaments in a row? obviously jack is applying for the wildcards. spread the wealth around a little and let a few other americans get some as well.

 

[tipsytime]

it just seems to me that sock is using wildcards too much and has been doing so for awhile now. last year he was wild carded into delray beach qualifier. got beat by sweeting 64, 60 in the second round. it will be interesting to see who gets wildcards for delray beach this year.... anyone want to bet jack sock gets one???

 

[Gonzalito17]

Jose Higueras once said WCs are like an insult, he wouldn't want them, because they mean I must not be working hard enough and don't deserve a free pass, you have to earn it. DY made a lot of $ off WCs but it did not build his confidence.

Was Sock one of the elite prospects who was caught partying late at night in USTA Boca and was suspended for two weeks, only to be let back? ANyone know who these party animal players are?

 

[Murrayalmagrofan]

Jose Higueras once said WCs are like an insult, he wouldn't want them, because they mean I must not be working hard enough and don't deserve a free pass, you have to earn it. DY made a lot of $ off WCs but it did not build his confidence.

Agree 100%. DY is a perfect example as well - ranked 40th in the world but doesn't play at that level.

Heck, if my life depended on it, I'd rather have the 84th ranked David Nalbandian play for me than Young.

 

[drakulie]

Sock this year has won a futures, made the semis of another, and a challenger quarterfinal. He's having a good start to the year, and the crowd likes him. Doesn't seem like a bad choice after all.

Not to mention he is already a Grand Slam Champion.

IMO Sock is an excellent candidate for receiving wildcards. Great hands at net, great serve and forehand. Needs to work on backhand a bit and fitness. Has the potential to go far.

To top is off, very nice kid too. (coming from someone who strung for him at the Sunrise Futures this year). Was polite, respectful, and seems well grounded.

 

[ahuimanu]

Not to mention he is already a Grand Slam Champion.

IMO Sock is an excellent candidate for receiving wildcards. Great hands at net, great serve and forehand. Needs to work on backhand a bit and fitness. Has the potential to go far.

To top is off, very nice kid too. (coming from someone who strung for him at the Sunrise Futures this year). Was polite, respectful, and seems well grounded.

Saw Sock at the recent challenger in Hawaii. Talented big hitter but needs a bit of work to reach his potential. He lost to eventual champion Go Soeda primarily due to lack of fitness (very hot day) and a backhand which can go off kilter for a stretch. Nice young man though and look forward to watching his progress

 

[tipsytime]

so, i was just watching the tennis channel court report w/ justin gimelstob (who i don't really like, but that's another topic) and they started talking about jack sock. the most important thing that justin said he should do is follow the ryan harrison model (not donald young) in that he needs to earn his way like harrison did, and not rely on wildcards.
again i want to highlight the fact that AMERICANS USE WILDCARDS TOO MUCH AND OUT TENNIS SUFFERS BECAUSE OF IT!!!!!!!!!
discuss.

 

[tipsytime]

....and OUR tennis suffers.... sorry.