The North Carolina Cup saw a major upset today as 43rd seed Jhonnatan Medina Alvarez defeated 11th seed Jack Sock in straight sets (4-11, 11-4, 11-0) and advanced to the Round of 16 in the Men’s Singles Pro Main Draw.
A Dominant Performance from Medina Alvarez
The match began with a close first game. Both players traded points until Sock gained the upper hand. He broke Medina Alvarez’s serve to lead 5-3 and continued to exert pressure, ultimately winning the first game 11-4.
Jack Sock does not carry his momentum into the second game. Sock seemed to struggle with his serve consistency, while Medina Alvarez took advantage of his opponent’s weaknesses. Medina Alvarez secured an easy win, taking the second game 11-4.
The third game was all Medina Alvarez. Sock seemed to struggle to find his rhythm, while Medina Alvarez played with exceptional precision and power. Medina Alvarez finished the third game with a final score of 11-0.
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Key Stats and Highlights
- Medina Alvarez had a higher win percentage on his first serve (56.1%) and second serve (43.9%) than Sock.
- Medina Alvarez dominated the net game, recording more points won at the net than Sock.
- There were a total of 7 timeouts taken throughout the match, with 2 in the first game and 5 in the second game.
- Medina Alvarez’s strong serving performance was also a contributing factor. He faced only a single break point throughout the entire match.
Medina-Alvarez interview after the match
“I’m ecstatic,” said Medina-Alvarez. “I’ve been putting in the work. Every day at 5 a.m I’m up training before I go to work. I have a full-time job, a baby, and a wife, and that’s what I love about pickleball. You always have a chance, and if you’re committed to your dreams, you can make it happen.”
But, he had a plan going up against Sock.
“Jack is such a great player. I wanted him to know that I had a presence on the court and would be physical,” said Medina-Alvarez. “I’m just grateful, I am.”
