Is Jack Sock Ready to Be the Face of American Men's Tennis?

Jack Sock is that Midwest athlete who appeals to Americans. He has rugged charisma and a gunslinger's mentality when he cracks his big forehand.

In his epic five-set win over 2014 U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic in the Davis Cup quarterfinals on Friday, Sock fought like he was defending the O.K. Corral. It was the biggest victory of his career, and it illustrated that he could soon climb higher than his current world No. 26 ranking.

"Jack stayed in there point for point and fought hard and made it physical," American Davis Cup captain Jim Courier told the media Friday night. "He did a lot of great things out there today that will hopefully carry him to new places in his career."

At 23 years old, Sock is just entering his prime. Unlike other athletes who have pulled out of the Olympic Games in Brazil, he's enthused about the opportunity, explaining: "I am very excited to get down there and rep the U.S. Hopefully I can play some good tennis and wear the colors proud. Definitely beyond happy."

While his fellow Davis Cup teammates, John Isner and Mike and Bob Bryan, are well-known veterans of several years, Sock is just beginning his experience representing American tennis. The maverick will lead the way for the next wave of highly touted American teenagers, including Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe.

How high will Sock rise?

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Socking the Forehand

The hard work with coach Troy Hahn is paying off. During the Davis Cup week at Tualatin Hills Tennis Center in Beaverton, Oregon, Sock was a relentless worker on the practice courts, hitting serves, forehands and returns with the kind of power that makes him a formidable talent.

His conditioning and footwork have improved significantly over the past two years, and he seems more intent on maximizing his abilities in singles, despite continued success in doubles with partner Vasek Pospisil. (The two won the 2014 Wimbledon doubles title.)

There's a snap-hiss sound to a Sock forehand, and he generates wicked spin that whirls off the court like a wounded missile. During his Davis Cup matches against Cilic and Borna Coric, Sock usually controlled his destiny when he had time to run around his backhand and drive his inside-out forehand. It was reminiscent of Courier's style during his days as the world No. 1 player and winner of four major titles from 1991-93.

"Just from the game, obviously he's very dangerous," Cilic said after Sock defeated him. "He can play very, very fast tennis. He's got a big forehand, so that was working well for him today."

Two days later, Sock's forehand misfired against Coric's baseline pressure, and he fell in four sets in the Davis Cup decider.

"Obviously I had chances and opportunities that I didn't really convert," Sock said after the match. "I mean, that's tennis. Some days it's firing and feels great; some days they're missing a little bit."

There's a lot to like about Sock's potential to keep improving. He has a big serve, strong net skills and the intensity to win tough matches. He responded well to the American crowd's energy, battling back time and again against Croatia's best.

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Stepping Into Bigger Shoes

Sock has a good backhand, when he trusts it. Against Coric's aggressive barrage, he often had to retrieve on that side with slice. He does have the talent to dictate more often with backhand topspin power to stay the course and support his forehand hammer.

Maybe all that's left are a few more backhand shots up the line and patience during tough rallies, because when he gets his openings, he is a good finisher.

Best of all, Sock won't be content to trade strokes in a losing cause. He's going to go for his shots and live with the results, which have been getting better on the world stage.

At the 2015 French Open, Sock defeated Grigor Dimitrov and Coric on his way to the fourth round. He also managed to take one set off clay king Rafael Nadal. Not bad for a native Nebraskan who probably saw a lot more corn than clay. It's a promising sign that shows his footwork and mental toughness is world-class.

In some respects, Sock resembles Stan Wawrinka with his barrel-chested ability to hit through the court. He's quicker, although nobody will put him on the defensive level of Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. He trailed Coric in this regard, but not by much.

"I was going for the points," Coric said following their match Sunday. "I just wasn't waiting for him to miss, because I knew I cannot play like that because he's going to kill me with the forehand."

Sock showed his Davis Cup mettle and will soon be the leader for American hopes. He was composed and cordial in defeat, but there was fire in his eyes as he looked forward to future battles. 

"Yeah, just take the positives from fighting back Friday my first time from two sets down, and then just keep doing the things I'm trying to do myself on the court, things I've been trying to improve on and keep working on, and take into the summer," he said.

Life on the ATP World Tour is a grind, and the highs and lows come in rapid sequence. There are at least 100 talented, world-class players who can win on any given night against the top players. There are only a few who can do so consistently, who show the mental strength to be one of the best.

Sock will have some big victories in the near future, and if American fans have not caught on to him by now, they should tune in to the U.S. Open series and the Olympics. The least they will see is his blue-collar mentality to keep working, keep fighting and grow with the next opportunity.

Famed racket company Babolat doesn't mind endorsing Sock as an American hero, tweeting out support from WTA star Agnieszka Radwanska:

It's been a long time since the golden years of American tennis when Courier, Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras ruled the sport. It's been nearly four years since Andy Roddick put up his racket. Those are big shoes to fill.

But if the shoe fits, it should be a Sock.

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained firsthand.