What a debut for Jack Sock.
What a weekend for Anna Leigh Waters.
The North Carolina Open started with Sock’s first appearance in a pro event and ended with another triple crown for the best player in the women’s game.
That’s your storyline, and ESPN2 was there to document the final match of the tournament, a victory by Waters and Sock earning the mixed doubles with a 3-11, 11-2, 11-3 win against Riley Newman and Allyce Jones.
And while the talk started and ended with Sock, a former top 10 singles and doubles player in professional tennis, the pickleball world still belongs to Waters who wrapped up a Sunday with a singles domination over Lea Jansen and a crushing three-game win with Catherine Parenteau in the women’s final.
Sock made the quarterfinals in the singles draw, was bounced out in the first round alongside Tyson McGuffin in the men’s draw, and looked as though they were heading for a quick exit Sunday in the mixed final losing the first game.
“I was just overthinking it too much,” Sock said of the slow start. “I just had to show up. I was able to flip the script a little in the second and third games and use my athleticism, power and reach. We vibed well in that…
