Jack Sock of the United States returns a shot in his men's singles match against Borna Coric of Croatia on Day 7 of the 2015 French Open at Roland Garros on May 30, 2015 in Paris, France. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
Jack Sock of the United States returns a shot in his men's singles match against Borna Coric of Croatia on Day 7 of the 2015 French Open at Roland Garros on May 30, 2015 in Paris, France. (Photo by DaShow more

American Jack Sock beats Borna Coric at French Open and is inspired by family life dramas



Paris // Jack Sock became the youngest American man to reach the French Open last-16 since Pete Sampras 22 years ago, with a spirit fired by a pair of frightening family health scares.

At the start of the year, Sock, the world No 37, was at the bedside of his brother Eric who had been diagnosed with Lemierre’s Syndrome.

The rare disease, caused when an infection from a sore throat builds in the lungs, could have been fatal.

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When Sock started his season at Indian Wells in March, he took to the court with the words “For you, Eric” penned into his tennis shoes.

Older brother Eric, a former university player in Nebraska and a tennis coach, spent the best part of two weeks in intensive care with Jack constantly at his bedside.

“When I was in the hospital next to the bed with my brother, it was a very tough time for not only myself but my family,” recalled Jack on Saturday after a 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 win against Croatian teenager Borna Coric put him into the last-16 of a Grand Slam for the first time.

“It was more motivation. He got through that, and it’s pushing me out on the court, teaching me things that maybe I didn’t know in the past.

“He’s able to get through that, makes the things on the court that I would maybe usually get frustrated with that don’t seem as big anymore. It helps me play a little bit more relaxed tennis.”

In Paris, Sock is now sporting another message of support on his footwear.

This time it’s “4uGPa” in honour of his grandfather who is suffering from Alzheimer’s.

Immediately after his win over Coric, he called the centre in Atlanta who are caring for his grandfather.

“My aunt and my grandmother are with him, bedside, and they put the phone up to his ear so I could say some words and hopefully could hear me,” said Sock.

“He can’t respond, he’s got tubes down his throat. He’s battling with Alzheimer’s right now.

“He’s lost a bunch of weight and not looking great. But it’s a part of life, you know. It’s something that everyone goes through.”

On the court, Sock will have to get past nine-time champion Rafael Nadal on Monday in his fourth round clash.

It will be Sock’s first encounter with the Spaniard although the respective merits of their forehands have often been compared.

“It will be kind of a chess match and who can find the forehand first and kind of open up the court,” predicted the American.

Nadal is wary of the dangers posed by Sock who beat 10th seed Grigor Dimitrov in the first round before getting past Spanish claycourter Pablo Carreno Busta.

“He’s a great player,” said Nadal.

“He has an amazing forehand, very good serve, and can play very aggressive and is dangerous. I know I have to be very solid.

“I will try not to let him get into good forehand positions, because I am going to be in big trouble.”

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How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

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Volunteers offer workers a lifeline

Community volunteers have swung into action delivering food packages and toiletries to the men.

When provisions are distributed, the men line up in long queues for packets of rice, flour, sugar, salt, pulses, milk, biscuits, shaving kits, soap and telecom cards.

Volunteers from St Mary’s Catholic Church said some workers came to the church to pray for their families and ask for assistance.

Boxes packed with essential food items were distributed to workers in the Dubai Investments Park and Ras Al Khaimah camps last week. Workers at the Sonapur camp asked for Dh1,600 towards their gas bill.

“Especially in this year of tolerance we consider ourselves privileged to be able to lend a helping hand to our needy brothers in the Actco camp," Father Lennie Connully, parish priest of St Mary’s.

Workers spoke of their helplessness, seeing children’s marriages cancelled because of lack of money going home. Others told of their misery of being unable to return home when a parent died.

“More than daily food, they are worried about not sending money home for their family,” said Kusum Dutta, a volunteer who works with the Indian consulate.

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How to help

Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
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6025 – Dh20
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Company: Bidzi

● Started: 2024

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UAE squad

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Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
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Founder: Jon Richards, founder and chief executive; Samer Chebab, co-founder and chief operating officer, and Jonathan Rawlings, co-founder and chief financial officer

Based: Media City, Dubai 

Sector: Financial services

Size: 120 employees

Investors: 2014: $500,000 in a seed round led by Mulverhill Associates; 2015: $3m in Series A funding led by STC Ventures (managed by Iris Capital), Wamda and Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority; 2019: $8m in Series B funding with the same investors as Series A along with Precinct Partners, Saned and Argo Ventures (the VC arm of multinational insurer Argo Group)

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