Former Doubles No. 2 Jack Sock Hints At Tennis Comeback With Nick Kyrgios
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It seems that Jack Sock will be returning to the tennis courts, as he hinted at a possible comeback to tennis with his good friend Nick Kyrgios.
Sock is only 32 years old, but he's already retired from professional tennis. He announced his retirement prior to the 2023 US Open, also announcing that he would turn professional as a pickleball player.
Within a year of competing on the pickleball's PPA Tour, Sock made it to the Top 10 in singles, showing his incredible talent with any kind of racket in his hand.
On top of that, it could be argued that his commitment to the sport hasn't been as high as that of some of his rivals since this is his post-career adventure, while for others, it is their professional career.
Maybe his quick success also contributed to a lack of motivation to continue competing on the pickleball court, as he recently suggested a comeback to the tennis courts.
James Blake, who serves as a tournament director for the Miami Open, appeared on the Nothing Major Podcast, hosted by Sock himself and three fellow former American ATP players, Sam Querrey, Steve Johnson, and John Isner.
During the episode of the podcast, Sock, who is a former doubles World No. 2 on the ATP Tour and a three-time doubles and one-time mixed doubles Grand Slam champion, asked Blake whether it would be possible for him to get a wild card for the 2025 Miami Open.
The Miami Open is a special place for Sock, as he made his ATP Masters 1000 debut at the event in 2011 in both singles in doubles. In singles, he lost to Carlos Berlocq 5-7, 6-7(8), while in doubles, it was an eye-opening debut for then young player, as he lost with Ryan Harrison to legends Mike and Bob Bryan 1-6, 0-6.
14 years after his debut, Sock, who then reached the Miami Open doubles final twice in his career (in 2015 and 2017), asked Blake whether it would be possible to get a wild card for the doubles tournament alongside his friend Nick Kyrgios.
"I have a competing player question. Nick Kyrgios and myself might be asking for a wild card into doubles of your event here in a few months. That would be something you would consider, or should I not even...?"
As a true tournament director, Blake immediately saw the business side of Sock's possible comeback, saying that he and Kyrgios could certainly sell some tickets.
"No way! You getting back on the tennis court? I can always give the diplomatic answer, 'It will be considered.' You guys, I think you have a pretty good chance, you guys could sell some tickets. "
Blake then also joked about one of the co-hosts of the podcast, John Isner, who won the 2022 Miami Open doubles tournament alongside Hubert Hurkacz.
"I mean, it's not like [John] Isner and [Hubert] Hurkacz were selling as many, but you guys could sell some tickets."
It seems that if Sock wants to make his comeback a reality, wild cards won't be a problem for him. In comments on the podcast's Instagram account, the official profile of the Indian Wells Open also offered one to the 32-year-old American, whose tennis comeback now doesn't seem to be a question of if but when.
