Sock Moves on to Quarters as Isner is Upset in Houston

Jack Sock rolled past second-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 6-4 at the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships on Thursday afternoon. The unseeded American has advanced to the quarterfinals in Houston, Texas for the second consecutive season, taking out the world number 15 in one hour and 21 minutes.

“I was able to dictate play with my forehand,” said Sock. “There were tricky conditions today, wind and sun, but I was able to get through some tricky service games. To not get broken against a guy like that is good confidence for me.”

Sock saved both break points he faced in the match, both of which came in the opening set. On Bautista-Agut’s serve, Sock broke once in the opening set and once in the second set to gain the break advantage in each, allowing him to notch the straight set victory.

Up next for the American will be fifth-seed Santiago Giraldo. The Colombian took out Janko Tipsarevic, who was playing in his first tournament since 2013, 7-6(2), 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals.

“I am happy to be back but I expected more from this match,” said Tipsarevic. “I guess it takes time because I was off for a long time, but overall I’m disappointed. Not that I lost, but the way I played.”

Sock’s compatriot John Isner did not fare as well on Thursday. The fourth-seeded Isner was defeated by Teymuraz Gabashvili 6-2, 7-6(2).

Isner, who was coming off of a semifinal run in Miami, said he was unable to adjust from hard courts to clay courts. 

“I didn’t adapt to the conditions, so that did me in,” said Isner. “It was a tough transition. In order to do well, I need to somehow get through my first match and I wasn’t able to do that.”

Gabashvili will take on sixth-seeded Spaniard Fernando Verdasco, who took out South Korean teenager Hyeon Chung 7-6(5), 6-2.

Isner wasn’t the only American that Gabashvili took out on Thursday. Partnering with Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis, the two ousted Mike and Bob Bryan 7-6(7), 7-5 to hand the Bryan Brothers their earliest exit at an ATP World Tour 250-level tournament since 2006.

Also in doubles, Long Island’s Scott Lipsky teamed with Treat Huey to defeat Johan Brunstrom and Donald Young 5-7, 6-4, 10-8.