Jack Sock’s awful year continued at Wimbledon earlier this week, when the one-time next American star’s Grand Slam struggles extended, as did his reputation as a loudmouth.
Sock bowed out to 81st-ranked Matteo Berrettini, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-4, 7-5, 6-2, on Tuesday in the first round. The 18th-seeded Sock was up two sets against the Italian before blowing it and calling Berrettini’s coach a “piece of s–t” when the players met for their post-match handshake. Berrettini’s coach had apparently said something to Sock during one of the points.
At the net after losing, Sock congratulated Berrettini with:
“Your coach is a piece of shit, by the way.”#Wimbledonpic.twitter.com/jcFdfoAo98
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) July 4, 2018
Sock did not speak to reporters after his latest meltdown. He was fined $5,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct, according to a report.
His latest defeat continues a downward trend in form since last year’s success, when the 25-year-old looked like he was ready to be the missing face for American men’s tennis. Sock had captured the Paris Masters, his biggest win ever, which propelled him into the ATP Finals in London for the first time in his career. In London, he continued his torrid form with impressive victories against top-10 opponents Marin Cilic and Alexander Zverev. He became the first American to reach the semifinals at the ATP Finals since Andy Roddick did 10 years ago.
His 2018 campaign has been unexpected and downright awful, both in terms of performance and professionalism. Sock started the year at Auckland, the year’s first tournament, as the No. 1 seed before he lost in the first round. Since the January defeat, he’s gone 5-14 with just one win against a top-50 player (David Ferrer).
Sock has also struggled big-time in Grand Slam competition. His latest exit marks the fourth-straight major in which he’s failed to escape the first round.
At the French Open, Sock exploded on a chair umpire during his five-set loss against then-world No. 136 Jurden Zopp. The hot-headed Nebraskan called the umpired “atrocious” after he disagreed with a call.
Jack Sock is not doing well with his chair umpire, at one point calls her "atrocious" pic.twitter.com/jNCqVTsR5C
— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) May 29, 2018
When asked if he regretted his behavior, he told a reporter: “If she does her job, then I wouldn’t have to do that.”
