Springfield Lasers marquee player Jack Sock joins the team Friday, July 21, 7 p.m., in a home match at Cooper Tennis Complex’s Mediacom Tennis Stadium, 2331 E. Pythian St.
The Lasers face the undefeated and defending league champions San Diego Aviators, featuring Ryan Harrison. Both Sock and Harrison will wear wireless microphones during the match.
Sock, 24, is the No. 1 ranked American male singles player, a position held by former Laser John Isner before Sock surpassed him Jan. 30. Internationally, Sock is currently ranked No. 17 singles, No. 19 doubles.
Sock was the only tennis player at the 2016 Rio Olympics to win two medals: gold in mixed doubles (with Bethanie Mattek-Sands,) defeating Rajeev Ram and Venus Williams; and bronze in men’s doubles (with Steve Johnson) defeating Daniel Nestor and Vasek Popisil.
Sock has earned three singles titles, including Delray Beach and Auckland this year. He has eight doubles titles, including a 2014 Wimbledon Doubles Championship (with Vasek Popisil), defeating doubles legends Bob and Mike Bryan. In 2010, Sock won the USTA Boys’ 18 Nationals, earning a wild card to the US Open, where he earned a juniors title. He turned pro in 2011.
Originally from Lincoln, Neb., Sock is now living and training in Kansas City. He graduated from Blue Valley North High School in 2011 and is a Chiefs and Royals fan.
“I don’t get to play close to home very often, so it’s really exciting to be part of the Springfield Lasers and play in front of family and friends this summer,” said Sock. “I always love being a part of a team, and I hope we see a lot of (USTA) Missouri Valley support for the Lasers.”
Sock is returning to a familiar court. He won his first national open championship at Cooper Tennis Complex’s Mediacom Tennis Stadium in 2004, at age 11. Springfield Lasers General Manager Paul Nahon remembers pulling his kids out of school to see the championship match.
“He’s very animated and he’s got a fiery persona,” said Nahon. “He and Rafa Nadal hit the ball with the highest rotation of topspin of anyone on the tour. And he has one of the strongest forehands on the tour.”
The Springfield Lasers also announce two player changes this week.
American Allie Kiick joins the team as a substitute in the women’s singles position Thursday, July 20. Kiick, 22, has won four ITF singles and one doubles title, and has just returned to the tour this year after a 2015 injury and melanoma diagnosis. Kiick replaces Francesca Schiavone, who subbed with the Lasers for their first three matches. The Lasers have already announced Sorana Cirstea will join the team for the last three matches of the season. All three players are subbing for Daria Kasatkina, who has withdrawn from the season due to injury.
And Anne-Lena Groenefeld returns to the team Friday, July 21, following recovery from an injury at Wimbledon where she made it to the semifinals in women’s doubles. Abigale Spears has been subbing for Groenefeld for the first four matches of the season.
Find a complete schedule, player line-up, news releases and more at SpringfieldLasers.com.
B-roll video of Mylan WTT players is available at WTT.com/media. Contact Jenny Edwards for the password.
The Springfield Lasers were established in 1996 and are one of the oldest teams in the Mylan WTT league. They are managed by the Springfield-Greene County Park Board and play home matches at Cooper Tennis Complex’s Mediacom Tennis Stadium. The Lasers have won the Western Conference Championship five times, making it to the Mylan WTT finals in 2014, 2013, 2009, 2001 and 1999.
