One step forward, two steps back.
Such is the state of American tennis.
Just hours after Jack Sock, a 20-year old Nebraskan who is beginning to find himself, advanced to the third round of the U.S. Open yesterday with a 7-6 (3), 1-6, 7-5, 6-2 victory over Maximo Gonzalez, 26th-ranked Sam Querrey was upset by Adrian Mannarino, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5), 6-7 (5), 6-4.
In the night session, 13th-seeded John Isner was a four-set winner (7-5, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (4)) over Gael Monfils.
Sock has been a rare bright spot in what has been another rough year and tournament for the American men. The U.S. began the men’s draw at the Open with 15 entrants and now just six remain. They are in danger of failing to send one player into the quarterfinals of a grand slam for the second straight year after such futility had never been achieved before 2012.
Querrey, the second-highest ranked American man, was testy with reporters after his setback, which capped a disappointing year for the 25-year-old Californian, when asked about the state of American tennis and his own inability to get past the fourth round of a major.
“I mean, I don’t give a crap what anyone thinks,” he said after failing to convert on 8-of-9 break point chances against Mannarino, the 63rd-ranked player in the world. .
Sock, meanwhile, is starting to live up to the promise many forecast for him when he bypassed college for the pros in 2011, showing perhaps Isner isn’t America’s only hope in the Open after all.
The hard-hitting Sock, with his blistering serve and take-no-prisoners attacking style from the baseline, will meet No. 18 Janko Tipsarevic in the third round.
It matches the furthest Sock ever has gone in a grand slam, when he reached the third round in Queens a year ago and lost a three-hour thriller to Nicolas Almagro. He has enjoyed his finest moments as a pro at the Open, winning the mixed doubles title with Melanie Oudin in 2011 and and the juniors crown in 2010.
“I feel like I always play some of my best tennis here,” said Sock, one of two men to be playing singles, doubles and mixed doubles at the Open. “So I always look forward to coming back every year.”
Sock put on an impressive display in front of a large gathering on Court 11, ripping 48 winners and seven aces.
Ranked 86th in the world, he shined at the French, winning three qualifying matches and advanced to the second round before losing to veteran Tommy Haas. Now he’s gone one round further at the Open and as a result, he has begun to be mentioned among the top American hopefuls, with Isner, Ryan Harrison, Michael Russell and Querrey.
Unlike Querrey, Sock didn’t back down from the pressure of helping to carry the fledgling U.S. men’s torch.
“The young guys my age and close to me are working hard to try to get there and bring more guys to the top,” he said. “But we all realize it’s a process.”
