LAVER CUP

September 24, 2022

Alex De Minaur

Jack Sock

Press Conference

BERRETTINI-DJOKOVIC/de Minaur-Sock

7-5, 6-2

Team Europe - 8

Team World - 4

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the press conference of Alex de Minaur and Jack Sock.

Questions.

Q. Did you guys not play your best tonight, or were you slightly ambushed by their unusual but very effective tactics?

JACK SOCK: What do you mean by "unusual"?

I mean, Novak is seeing the ball like a watermelon and hitting everything any way he wants, and Berrettini serves cannons like he does in singles. Everything clicked for them. So I'm not sure what was so unusual about that.

Q. They were doing a lot of front-and-back...

JACK SOCK: They're singles guy. Most singles guys don't serve and volley, I would just say. Unusual...

Q. Alex, what are your thoughts on tonight's match?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, look, disappointed. More than anything, just couldn't get a win for the team.

Yeah, I mean, we came out against quality opponents and they played great. There is an aspect of it that I felt I could have done better and played a little better, but ultimately doubles in team situations, it's a whole new ball game. Didn't work out today.

But, you know, Jack's been playing some unbelievable ball all week, and I reckon he'll be ready for whatever is to happen come tomorrow.

Q. Alex, something completely different, a team event, Davis Cup, you're playing against The Netherlands in November. Can you say something about that encounter?

ALEX de MINAUR: It's a tad early for that, isn't it?

Q. I know, I know.

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, look, they're playing great. They've got a very strong team, very dangerous. We've still got a lot to play to finish off the year before we worry about that.

Q. Because I was also curious, what are the odds that Nick will be involved in your team?

ALEX de MINAUR: Your guess is as good as mine. We don't know. Yeah, there is still a long time until that happens, so anything can happen.

Q. Jack, just on the way Novak played today, we obviously know what a genius he is on the court, but having been away for two-and-a-half months, having not played in any sort of official match, did you see anything different? How did you see the way he played?

JACK SOCK: I feel like everybody keeps talking about him being away for a couple of months. Clearly there was no rust, as everyone saw.

I thought we were all pretty impressed with his serving in singles and doubles. Seems like he was getting maybe a lot more free points. Holding, you know, easier. Probably for his standards, I feel like that's been a thing he's probably worked on a lot in his career. Seems like he's coming faster, hitting his spots great.

Yeah, one thing with doubles, felt like we were kind of, the way he was returning, singles and doubles, and obviously the way they hit the ball from the ground in their unusual one-up, one-back tactics, felt under pressure on our serve. Felt like if we didn't hold it was going to be tough. Matteo serves huge. Novak was hitting his spots great and they were backing it up with some great play.

Yeah, we had a little momentum there in the first. Wish we could have gone to a breaker, see what happens, but Novak is playing some great ball after a few months.