NEW YORK—Jack Sock's decision to stop playing doubles at Grand Slams is paying off, as the American has reached the second week of a major for the first time at the U.S. Open.
Sock and regular doubles partner Vasek Pospisil have not played together since Wimbledon, and Sock is not playing doubles at the U.S. Open.
"It was personal experiences, you know, where I felt like it's kind of hindered my play in singles," he said, recalling Pospisil playing 10 sets of singles and doubles before the quarterfinals of Wimbledon.
The 23-year-old added that doubles affected his scheduling at last year’s Open
"[I] was here till 9:30, 10:00 playing doubles, and [they] put me on second the next morning," he said. "Obviously [I was] not getting the proper rest and everything you need going into those matches."
The former Wimbledon doubles champion noted that doubles has helped his game, but a lighter schedule is also helping his singles play.
"[It’s] so tough [of a] decision on the one hand, but also [an] easy decision on the other, where you get all your energy and rest and hydration,” Sock said. “And you just take all the necessary steps to do your best in singles. I think it's showing … I think I'll stick to this in the future."
Sock is No. 26 in the rankings, and he’ll play Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the fourth round of the U.S. Open.