Imagine entering a match with these opportunities on the line:
• A debut Top-10 appearance.
• A first-ever ATP Masters 1000 title, becoming the first American in seven years to win one.
• A trip to the ATP Finals.
No pressure, right?
In Paris, the last regular-season event of the year, those openings unexpectedly presented themselves to Jack Sock. Once out of the race to the year-end championships, the American emerged as a contender after some early losses by the players ahead of him in the standings.
He advanced to his first career ATP Masters final and faced a surprise opponent, Filip Krajinovic. The Serb, winner of five ATP Challenger titles over the course of the year, came through qualifying to advance to the championship match. He knocked off two of Sock’s compatriots—Sam Querrey and John Isner—along the way.
In the final, Krajinovic’s solid play continued as he took the first set. Sock, who was playing in his first final in months, imposed himself in the second and blasted through the third to win the biggest title of his career.