Sock advances to fourth round of U.S. Open for first time as sizzling summer continues

An excellent summer for Blue Valley North graduate Jack Sock became even sweeter on Friday.

Sock, 23, reached the fourth round of the U.S. Open for the first time, beating 2014 champion and seventh seed Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 in Flushing Meadows.

Sock’s breakthrough at this Slam event came as he won 28 points more than his Croatian opponent and committed just 15 unforced errors. Sock had previously lost twice in the third round of the U.S. Open.

Last month in Rio, Sock teamed with Bethanie Mattek-Sands to win Olympic gold for the U.S. in mixed doubles. He also took bronze in men’s doubles with partner Steve Johnson.

Cilic came to New York having won his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati, where he beat Andy Murray in the final.

Next up for Sock, who is ranked No. 26 in the world and reached Friday’s match by beating Taylor Fritz in five sets on Monday, is a fourth-round showdown against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Sock has reached the final 16 of a major one other time, last year at the French Open. He lost his next match to Rafael Nadal.

This story was originally published September 2, 2016 at 6:25 PM with the headline "Sock advances to fourth round of U.S. Open for first time as sizzling summer continues."