Springfield, Mo. - The Springfield Lasers pro tennis team has drafted top American male tennis player Jack Sock as its 2017 marquee player.
Sock was the first overall pick in today's Mylan World Team Tennis draft and will make his WTT debut this summer with appearances planned at Lasers home matches in Springfield, not far from his hometown of Kansas City.
Sock, 24, currently holds an international rank of No. 21 in singles and No. 16 in doubles on the ATP World Tour. As of Jan. 30, he is the No. 1 American male player, ousting John Isner from a spot he had held for five years.
"I don't get to play close to home very often, so it's really exciting to be part of the Springfield Lasers and play in front of family and friends this summer," said Sock. "I always love being a part of a team, and I hope we see a lot of (USTA) Missouri Valley support for the Lasers."
Springfield Lasers General Manager Paul Nahon said Lasers fans are in for a thrill.
"He's very animated and he's got a fiery persona," said Nahon. "He and Rafa Nadal hit the ball with the highest rotation of topspin of anyone on the tour. And he has one of the strongest forehands on the tour. I first saw him in 2004, when he won his first national open championship at age 11, right here at Cooper Tennis Complex, on the stadium court."
Sock has earned two singles and eight doubles titles, including a 2014 Wimbledon Doubles Championship (with Vasek Popisil,) defeating doubles legends Bob and Mike Bryan.
Sock was the only tennis player at the 2016 Rio Olympics to win two medals: gold in mixed doubles (with Bethanie Mattek-Sands,) defeating Rajeev Ram and Venus Williams; and bronze in men's doubles, defeating Daniel Nestor and Vasek Popisil.
In 2010, Sock won the USTA Boys' 18 Nationals, earning a wild card to the US Open, where he earned a juniors title. He turned pro in 2011.
Originally from Lincoln, Neb., Sock is now living and training in Kansas City. He graduated from Blue Valley North High School in 2011 and is a Chiefs and Royals fan.
Elsewhere in the Mylan WTT league, today's draft included Venus Williams, Martina Hingis, and Bob and Mike Bryan returning for the Washington Kastles; John Isner, Eugenie Bouchard and Mardy Fish heading to the New York Empire; and Andy Roddick and Sloane Stephens joining the Philadelphia Freedoms.
The remainder of the Laser roster will be drafted in March.
The Springfield Lasers Mylan WTT home season is July 16-Aug. 5. VIP ticket packages are available now by contacting Paul Nahon at 417-874-2906. Individual Lasers tickets go on sale in May.
The Springfield Lasers were established in 1996 and are one of the oldest teams in the Mylan WTT league. They are managed by the Springfield-Greene County Park Board and play home matches at Cooper Tennis Complex's Mediacom Tennis Stadium.
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For more information on Mylan World TeamTennis, visit http:
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