Jack Sock and Eugenie Bouchard Join Forces: American tennis star Jack Sock has joined forces with Eugenie Bouchard for mixed doubles at the PPA Tour Masters this week. Sock expressed confidence that their opponents would be intimidated by their presence. Their partnership showcases the growing recognition of pickleball in the United States over the past six to seven years.
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Pickleball’s Rise in Popularity
Despite this being their first tournament together, Sock believes that he and Bouchard can make a significant impact and represent tennis in pickleball. Sock, a former ATP No. 8, and Bouchard, a former Wimbledon finalist, are among the latest tennis stars to transition to pickleball.
“We’re going to do some damage and people are going to be very scared of us. I think I’ve been playing a little more than her, but it’s alright, we’re gonna get this done. We’re repping the tennis world.” – (sock)
“We practiced yesterday for like two hours, so that was our prep. We’re gonna go practice right now.” – (Bouchard)
Strong Start at the Tournament
Sock and Bouchard began their tournament campaign strongly, winning decisively against the American duo of Camila Zilveti and Patrick Smith with scores of 11-1 and 11-2.
They are set to face AJ Koller and Meghan Dizon in the Round of 32. Dressed in all whites, a nod to Wimbledon, Sock shared their motivation, saying,
“We both miss Wimbledon a lot, so we just wanted to play together and wear the all-whites this week.” – (sock)
Looking Forward
The partnership of Sock and Bouchard highlights the growing trend of tennis players embracing pickleball. As they advance in the tournament, their performance could further boost the sport’s profile and attract more attention from the tennis community.
News in Brief: Jack Sock and Eugenie Bouchard Join Forces
Tennis stars Jack Sock and Eugenie Bouchard have teamed up for mixed doubles at the PPA Tour Masters, aiming to make a significant impact in pickleball.
Their debut match saw them dominate Camila Zilveti and Patrick Smith, winning 11-1 and 11-2. As they progress, Sock and Bouchard represent the rising recognition of pickleball in the U.S. and may inspire more tennis players to join the sport.
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