Sock focused on Grand Slam singles success

New York (AFP) – Weeks after winning Olympic gold and bronze in doubles, Jack Sock is going solo, searching for Grand Slam singles success.

The 23-year-old American reached the fourth round of the US Open for the first time on Friday with a convincing victory over 2014 champion Marin Cilic.

Sock, the 26th seed, looked every bit the Grand Slam contender he wants to be in a 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 win over the seventh-seeded Croatian, never facing a break point and breaking Cilic four times.

Sock’s only prior trip to the second week of a Grand Slam, in singles, was his fourth-round appearance at Roland Garros last year.

Now that he’s hoping to go deep in singles he’s given up the doubles play that has brought him the 2014 Wimbledon men’s title with Vasek Pospisil, a 2011 US Open mixed title with Melanie Oudin and just last month mixed doubles gold and men’s doubles bronze at the Rio Olympics.

“It was personal experiences where I felt like it’s kind of hindered my play in singles,” he said. 

“For me here last year, I got my first-round win, was here till 9:30, 10:00 playing doubles and they put me on second the next morning.

“Obviously not getting the proper rest and everything you need going into those matches.

“So it was a tough decision on one end, but also an easy decision on the other, where you get all your energy and rest and hydration and you just take all the necessary steps to do your best in singles.

“I think it’s showing.”