Paris Masters | Jack Sock advances to London ATP finals after winning Paris title

Paris Masters | Jack Sock advances to London ATP finals after winning Paris title

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Jack Sock has qualified for the season-ending ATP Tour Finals in London after beating Filip Krajinovic 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 for the Paris Masters title. Before coming to Paris, Sock didn’t even think of London and now this was the third title of the year for him, fourth overall, and first at a Masters.

The 16th seed American ace ended his Serbian opponent’s fairytale run in the French capital to break into the world’s top 10 for the first time and take the last place for London from Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta. Sock began the week with a single Tour-level win to his name this year and 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 victory against the Serbian qualifier Krajinovic could be the career-changer moment for the American. 

Sock hit nine aces and claimed 79 percent of first serve points for the victory despite being a set down from the onset. It marked the third time he rallied from a set down this week, having overcome Kyle Edmund from a 1-5 final set deficit in his opening match. On Friday, he also stormed back to defeat Fernando Verdasco in three gripping sets. 

In total, Sock notched a career-best third title of the year, having prevailed on the hard courts of Auckland in January and Delray Beach in February. He concludes his ATP Race To London campaign with 3,765 points, edging Pablo Carreno Busta, who occupied the eighth and final spot for the majority of the week. With Carreno Busta, Isner, Sam Querrey, Kevin Anderson, Juan Martin del Potro, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Lucas Pouille, Roberto Bautista Agut and Albert Ramos-Vinolas all failing to reach the final, the door was wide open for the American to secure his place at The O2 and he did not disappoint.

“Coming in this week I had no idea I could even make London. It wasn’t in my head. Incredible week. Hard to describe, honestly. I don’t think it’s really hit or soaked in yet,” Sock said as quoted by AFP.

“I’m going to swing big and play my game like I always do. Just enjoy the moment."

He is the first American winner at Paris since Andre Agassi in 1999; and the first American winner of a Masters tournament since Andy Roddick at Miami in 2010.

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