rtnered with Steve Johnson to earn the bronze medal at the Olympics in Rio and won the mixed-doubles gold medal with Bethanie Mattek-Sands. Since the US Open, Sock has made the final in all thr

Jack Sock is starting to make a habit of winning big matches, a newfound talent that may be ushering in a new era in American tennis.Sock, 24 years old and already the highest-ranking player from the U.S. at No. 24, upset No. 12 seed Richard Gasquet on Thursday at the ATP Paris Masters 1000 in a three-setter just shy of three hours. Socks explosive forehand, improved mobility and increasingly well-rounded game have enabled him to log some resounding wins since his early loss in the Olympic games in Rio.Since then, Sock has beaten Marin Cilic at the US Open (where the former champion was the No. 7 seed), Shanghai No. 5 seed and Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic and German wunderkind Alexander Zverev. On Wednesday in Paris, he took out Dominic Thiem handily before his hard-fought win against Gasquet.For years now, Sock has been touted as the successor to Andy Roddick. Hes been hailed by some as the player who might accomplish the feat that has eluded John Isner, long the top-ranked U.S. player in the post-Roddick era: a Grand Slam triumph that might kick-start the American mens game.Like Roddick, the last U.S. Grand Slam champion, Sock is a native Nebraskan. His game also is anchored in an atomic forehand abetted by a powerful serve. Theres a physicality about Socks game that is reminiscent of Roddick at his most persuasive. At 6-foot-3, Sock is an inch taller, if not quite as broad-shouldered.Against Thiem, an Austrian 23-year-old who is every bit as much a muscular worker, Sock dominated in true Roddick-style, winning 91 percent of his first-serve points, backing up those fireballs with forehand blasts mixed with occasional off-speed backhands and even drop shots. Thiem never saw a break point.However, Socks similarity to Roddick also carried a price tag. It quickly morphed into pressure. It didnt help that Socks game was raw and his temperament unschooled. Thus Socks development was relatively slow. He also had to learn to live with the pressure. At times before this summer, it was intense.People love to do comparisons [to Roddick], Sock told USA Today in August. But you just have to brush it off and keep focusing on what youre doing, on trying to get better. No matter how well you do, theres always people who are going to hate or have better expectations.Sock had trouble distancing himself from other promising newcomers, including Ryan Harrison and Donald Young. They would all flare, then struggle. The only reliable American since 2010 has been that other late bloomer, Isner. He hit a career high of No. 9 in 2012 and has been a top-20 player -- and the leading U.S. male -- for most of his career. But hes 31 years old now and ranked four places below Sock.Isner is 6-foot-10 and still dangerous, and he will remain so as long as that serve continues to lock and load. But he lives and dies by it. Isners size and long limbs impair his mobility. His game is poorly suited to the way tennis is played today, whereas Socks is right in tune with his times during what might be an era of transition on the ATP Tour.In October, Sock was a quarterfinalist at the Shanghai Masters 1000 and a finalist in Stockholm for the second year in a row. Hes 14-5 since the start of the US Open. Sock has been on fire in doubles as well. He partnered with Steve Johnson to earn the bronze medal at the Olympics in Rio and won the mixed-doubles gold medal with Bethanie Mattek-Sands. Since the US Open, Sock has made the final in all three doubles events hes played, winning in Shanghai and the Swiss Indoors.Those triumphs brought his record in doubles finals to 8-8 (including two Grand Slam titles), a mark Sock must wish he could duplicate in singles. Hes just 1-4 in tournament finals, with his lone win coming on the red clay of Houston in 2015. Thiem, by comparison, has four tournament wins -- and thats just this year.All those doubles wins, though, foster positive energy for Sock. As he said after he won the Wimbledon doubles title with Vasek Pospisil in 2014, Any match you win, especially in Grand Slams, playing in the second week can only help your confidence in all aspects of tennis.Doubles, as John McEnroe and Martina Navratilova once shouted from the rooftops, isnt merely a confidence-booster. It also helps hone your game. It can be especially useful for todays under-25 pros, who were trained with a heavy emphasis on groundstrokes, at the expense of the net game. In Stockholm, one key to Socks win over Zverev was his creative use of slice and sharp angles, stuff straight out of the doubles playbook.But Sock has redoubled his focus on singles this year. With some interesting fellow countrymen such as?Taylor Fritz,?Frances Tiafoe?and Jared Donaldson coming on fast, theres never been a better time for Sock to step into those big shoes left by Roddick. http://www.packersrookiestore.com/Packers-Kentrell-Brice-Jersey/ . In taking its goal tally to 99 in all competitions already this season, City delivered another demonstration of its lethal firepower at Etihad Stadium to set up a fourth-round match at home to another second-tier team -- Watford. http://www.packersrookiestore.com/Packers-Aaron-Ripkowski-Jersey/ . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. http://www.packersrookiestore.com/Packers-Clay-Matthews-Jersey/ . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Perez joins infielder Andy LaRoche and catcher Mike Nickeas with minor-league agreements for 2014 that include invitations to attend spring training. http://www.packersrookiestore.com/Packers-Paul-Hornung-Jersey/ . Louis Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey last Sunday. The fine is the fourth this season for Goldson. He was fined $30,000 for a hit on the New York Jets Jeff Cumberland in Week 1. http://www.packersrookiestore.com/Packers-Ladarius-Gunter-Jersey/ . General manager Jarmo Kekalainen told Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch on Friday that he wants to see Gaboriks contributions go beyond the scoresheet before considering a long-term deal for the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent.After attending the IPLs opening ceremony, Sky Sports Mark Butcher offered a lift to two of the competitions star batsmen... Gujarat Lions skipper Suresh Raina - a man with more IPL appearances and runs than anybody else - earned a ride back to his hotel, as did Kings XI Punjab captain David Miller, as you will see in the video above.At the ceremony itself, the former Surrey star caught up with Mumbai Indians all-rounder Kieron Pollard and Rising Pune Supergiants coach Stephen Fleming, while he also danced with Dwayne Bravo! Mark Butcher caught up with Dwayne Bravo at the launch of the 2016 IPL season Butcher will be sending back regular video diaries during his time at the IPL, so head to skysports.dddddddddddd.com for the latest instalments.The 2016 IPL is live in full on Sky Sports. Click here for a list of the TV times. Also See: Buttler ready for IPL Kevin Pietersens year How to watch the IPL IPL: Who should YOU support? 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