Return Winners: the 2015 Houston final

Jack Sock and Sam Querrey squared off in the 2015 final of the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships in Houston.

Winner of the 2010 junior US Open title, Jack Sock was quickly pegged as America’s next great hope. A steady climb in singles saw him reach the Top 100 for the first time in 2013. But the following year, hip surgery slowed his progress, and he was forced to the sidelines toward the end of 2014.

Upon his return to action in 2015, Sock won several rounds in singles at the Masters events in Indian Wells and Miami. In his third event of the year, the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships in Houston, the young American reached his first singles final, beating three seeds along the way. His opponent in the final would be his compatriot Sam Querrey, who would be playing in his first title bout in nearly three years.

Facing each other for the first time, Querrey had the edge on Sock when it came to experience, as he was seeking his eighth career singles title in his 13th final. On an overcast day, the two stayed on even ground throughout the first nine games of the opening set.

That’s when the skies opened up.

A heavy storm came through, prompting a delay of more than two hours while damaging the court. When play resumed, the two soon found themselves in a tiebreak, and Querrey raced to a 5-2 lead. Sock fought back, and up set point at 10-9, converted behind a huge forehand that forced an error from Querrey to clinch the opener.

In the second set, the two continued trading heavy groundstrokes and serves on the slow surface. Serving to force a tiebreak, Querrey was threatened by his younger opponent but held on. This time, it was Sock who raced to a quick lead, one he didn’t relinquish. When Querrey missed a backhand return down 6-2, Sock had his first career singles title in hand.

3

Sock had claimed three titles in his professional career prior to this one: the 2011 US Open mixed doubles crown with Melanie Oudin, and Wimbledon 2014 and Indian Wells 2015 doubles titles with Vasek Pospisil.

4

Querrey’s final-round winning streak ended at four: His last loss in a championship match came in the 2010 Houston final to Juan Ignacio Chela.

2003

The most recent all-American final at the tournament prior to this took place in 2003, when Andre Agassi defeated Andy Roddick.

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