Once ranked No. 8 in the world, Sock continues comeback at Sarasota Open

SARASOTA — When the subject of tennis hotbeds arises, nobody ever mentions Lincoln, Nebraska. That city belongs to college football’s Cornhuskers.

But Jack Sock has spent the week playing on the West Coast of Florida, where tennis courts and academies are as common as convenience stores, proving to tennis fans why they should not dismiss the place altogether.

The 29-year-old Lincoln native is also showing spectators at the Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open why he has been ranked as high as No. 8 in the world in singles and No 2 in doubles.

“I played every sport growing up, like most kids in Nebraska,” the 6-foot-3 Sock said after trouncing 26-year-old southpaw Gijs Brouwer on the clay at the Payne Park Tennis Center, during the Round of 16 in the ATP Challenger Rour event. “I didn’t play football, which is weird being from Lincoln. I played everything else and fell in love with tennis. I slept with my rackets when I was a kid and all that stuff.”

It turns out Sock also showed Nebraskans how the game is played. He went 80-0 during his high school career at Blue Valley North, winning four straight state singles championships in the process, before playing at Davidson University.

Most of all, the right-handed Sock has demonstrated what it takes to come back from a devastating injury. He won four career ATP singles titles and 15 more ATP doubles titles before he tore ligaments in his right thumb, which required surgery in 2019.

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Sock was injured when he awkwardly caught a medicine ball. He was off the court so long, he fell out of the ATP World rankings entirely.

“It’s taken a lot, obviously,” Sock said, of his continuing comeback. “I went from the top 10 in the world to being unranked.

“My body wasn’t cooperating. It’s probably taken more mental work than physical work. It’s easy to get back into shape, into the training and all that. But to know you have to start over again and work your way back is difficult mentally.”

Although Sock is solely focused on singles right now, it’s in doubles where he has truly impacted the game. Three of his ATP doubles titles have been in Grand Slam events.

Sock also snatched a gold medal in mixed doubles at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, playing with Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

After capturing the doubles crown, along with 6-10 John Isner, at the inaugural Dallas Open in February, Isner said, “I sincerely think that Jack Sock is the best doubles player in the world.”

High praise from a tall man.

“You play more loose in doubles,” Sock said. “It’s more stressful on a singles court. You play with your friends. It’s a little more fun and relaxed.

“I like the hands part of it. I feel very comfortable at the net. My forehand can dictate a lot of doubles matches.”

More than anything, Sock is simply thankful to be on the court.

“My body is cooperating again,” he said. “It’s good to be back out there.

“All these guys are good. They are playing pro tennis for a reason.”

ELIZABETH MOORE SARASOTA OPEN

WHEN: Play in the 32-player main draw continues throughout the week leading up to the championship final scheduled for noon on Sunday.

OF NOTE: The top-ranked player in the field is Jordan Thompson of Sydney, Australia, who is currently No. 78 in the ATP world rankings.

TICKETS: Ticket prices range from $20 for general admission to more than $1,000 for certain VIP seats.

PARKING: Parking is available at the Sarasota County Public Parking Garage, as well as VIP parking for $20 on a first-come, first-serve basis.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Once ranked No. 8 in the world, Sock continues comeback at Sarasota Open