Jack Sock is an incredibly talented athlete and he proved it also during a recent pickleball event in Charlotte.
The 30-year-old took part in his first-ever professional pickleball tournament, the 2023 North Carolina Open, and it ended with his triumph in the mixed doubles. But despite the success, the former world no. 8 on the ATP Tour keeps tennis as his main priority.
Sock hasn't played a lot recently, even hinting at his retirement after one of the events. But despite doing well in pickleball, the American wants to keep playing tennis as he believes he still has a lot to offer. Speaking to the InsideHook, he said:
"Tennis is still the goal. I definitely have some time to spend there and still want to accomplish some things, but I’ll dabble in some pickleball as well. I just think it’s a blast. It’s a lot less stressful than tennis and there’s a lot less impact on your body."
While he said that pickleball is an exciting way to keep competing, Sock called tennis the love of his life and it's obvious which sport is the number one on his list.
"I don’t mind not beating up my body at times and tennis has been a love of mine for my entire life and blessed me in so many ways, but I’m not going to be able to do it forever. Pickleball is an exciting way for me to be able to keep competing."
Sock wasn't the only tennis professional who tried his hand on pickleball and it's quite obvious that current or former pros from tennis are doing quite well also in pickleball. When asked about what helped him do well, he said:
"Obviously the eye-hand coordination from so many years playing tennis can only help. I guess the experience of playing in front of people in pressure situations should too. Personally, a huge draw to pickle for me was that the sport kind of revolves around what I feel comfortable doing on the tennis court, especially while playing doubles."
"Using your hands, using angles, getting into some cat and mouse stuff, all that type of stuff. The things I’m very confident in on the tennis court were kind of made into a sport with pickleball. I think the athleticism and explosiveness I have from tennis should help me and hopefully be a strength. Being on a court with people watching should also help."
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