Laver Cup 2022: Casper Ruud vs. Jack Sock Tennis Pick and Prediction

TennisSection previews the 2022 Laver Cup as Casper Ruud takes on Jack Sock on Day 1 on Friday, September 23rd 2022.

Ahead of his second appearance at the Laver Cup, Casper Ruud will be looking to set the tone for another convincing win for Team Europe. But how will he fare when he takes on the dangerous Jack Sock in Friday’s curtain raiser at the much-anticipated team tournament?

Casper Ruud has enjoyed a fantastic year on the ATP Tour. Having won three ATP titles and reaching a career-high ranking of No. 2, Ruud came close to win his first Grand Slam title at both the French Open and US Open. Only the greatness of Rafael Nadal and the brilliance of Carlos Alcatraz prevented him from writing the history on championship weekend at the two Majors, but he remains a force to be reckoned for the rest of the year of the long term future.

Jack Sock, meanwhile, will be taking part in his fourth Laver Cup this weekend. The American, however has only managed one singles win in three previous editions, so the odds are clearly stacked against him when he plays Casper Ruud. Sock is gradually climbing the ladder as he now sits just 28 spots below the world’s top 100. Sock’s form on grass (which accounts for nearly half of his wins this year) has been instrumental in his rise and although he is unlikely to build on his ranking this weekend, he will be looking to pull the strings for Team World who are still searching for that elusive first title.

Casper Ruud and Jack Sock have not played each other on the ATP Tour. Friday’s match at the Laver Cup will be their first official meeting. As far as curtain raisers go, this might not have the sort of magnetic feel that you would associate with the likes of Federer and Nadal, but I would expect some good tennis on offer. Ruud is having the best season of his career and has grown into a versatile player. Expect him to overwhelm Sock from the baseline.