Jack Sock used to come across as one of the nicest guys in tennis.
But his nasty side came out this week, when he was knocked out in the first round of the French Open thanks to a 6-7 (4), 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3 defeat to lucky loser Jurgen Zopp on Tuesday.
Sock let the frustration get the better of him on several occasions as he berated umpire Paula Vieira Sousa for a series of admittedly incorrect calls against him.
The American eventually asked for the official to be replaced after branding her “atrocious”.
Jack Sock is not doing well with his chair umpire, at one point calls her "atrocious" pic.twitter.com/jNCqVTsR5C
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) May 29, 2018
After losing the fourth-set tiebreaker, Sock lost the head entirely and seemed more focused on publicly humiliating Sousa than his strategy.
“I can do whatever I want as a player. You wouldn’t be here without me. Now I’m going to the toilet,” Sock said.
Even after the dust had settled on his defeat, Sock refused to express any regret for the way he’d behaved on court.
Asked Jack Sock if he regretted his behaviour or outbursts towards the umpire, Paula Vieira Sousa, today. He replied: "If she does her job, then I wouldn't have to do that."
— Stuart Fraser (@stu_fraser) May 29, 2018
It’s a far cry from the lovable Sock who once displayed incredible honesty by telling opponent Lleyton Hewitt to challenge a call that had wrongly been ruled out and the man who sought out a young fan who had a towel ripped away from him after Sock had kindly thrown it in his direction.
The 25-year-old will have some ways to go if he is to win back some of the fans he’s lost with his outbursts in Paris on Tuesday.
https://twitter.com/Tazzie_D/status/1001663034325073920
https://twitter.com/TheRealKingGaf/status/1001658072715087874
Watching Jack Sock be an absolute jerk on @TennisChannel replay. 👎🏽👎🏽
— Virginia (@vje51) May 30, 2018
Used to be a fan. Not after whatever tf that mess today was. Act like the professional you're supposed to be. Disgusting behavior. You're the atrocious one.
— Person (@mgriffinv) May 30, 2018
Wanted to weigh in on Jack Sock’s behavior today. Yeah I get he is struggling and frustrated, but that umpire is trying to make a living, just like he is. Show her some respect and stop acting so pretentious.
— AllAboutTennisBlog (@TennisBlogger1) May 30, 2018
https://twitter.com/iggybach/status/1001616002830843904
https://twitter.com/cricket_fan_cz/status/1001606068735172609
https://twitter.com/Garbologist_/status/1001605179551043584
