On Friday night, a farewell show centred on Roger Federer will take place. Americans Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe will likely play supporting roles in this production. However, they provide a significant challenge for Federer to end his career on a triumphant manner.
Sock, in example, has competed in a great deal more doubles matches over the last several years than either Roger Federer or his superstar partner, Rafael Nadal, who have historically concentrated nearly entirely on singles matches.
Sock, who is now 29 years old, has an impressive career record of 205-96 in doubles and has achieved a position as high as No. 2 in the world. He just helped the United States Davis Cup team move to the quarterfinals by winning two critical sets with partner Rajeev Ram. He just won the championship in Washington, D.C., with partner Nick Kyrgios, and he just helped the United States Davis Cup team win both matches.
Both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have brought home the gold from the men’s doubles competition at the Olympic Games. In 2016, Sock won the gold medal in the mixed doubles event with Bethanie Mattek-Sands. In contrast to Federer and Nadal, however, Sock has been victorious in Grand Slam doubles competition, taking home four trophies overall (three in men’s doubles and one in mixed doubles).
Sock has a powerful serve, an intimidating forehand with an incredible grip, and excellent touch and reflexes at the net. His serve is also quite effective. In spite of his sturdy build and sometimes drowsy expression, he is quite swift. This means that he and the speedy Tiafoe will be able to quickly close a lot of holes tonight against Federer and Nadal.
But despite the fact that Tiafoe, who is 24 years old and has just recently broken through to reach the semifinals in singles at the U.S. Open this month, he may be the weak link in this match. He is winless in doubles competition on the tour and has a losing record of 23–39 for his career overall.
Tiafoe is an extrovert with a flamboyant game, and he does like a big event and an exciting audience, as he demonstrated once again in New York this year. In the moments before the race, he gave off an air of complete calm.
Sock has previously competed against these rising stars in doubles competition at the Laver Cup, when he and his partner Sam Querrey were defeated by Federer and Nadal in their first-ever official match together. This match took place in 2017.
