Sock into Paris final,  on cusp of ATP Finals Berth

Jack Sock is just one match away from qualifying for his first ATP Finals. 

Sock defeated Frenchman and wild-card entrant Julien Benneteau, 7-5, 6-2, in the Paris Masters semifinals on Saturday to secure his spot into his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 final. 

With a decade between the two players, Sock, 25, felt the heat in the first set from Benneteau, 35, who retrieved a break of serve twice in the first set. But it was Sock’s speed and signature forehand that had the Nebraska native eventually gaining control to take the first set. 

After a close first set, Benneateau’s stamina dipped, resulting in double-faulting two breaks of serves while Sock did not lose one point on serve in set two.

Sock’s run in Paris so far has been a battle. In his first match of the tournament, the No. 16 seed was nearly ousted by Great Britain’s Kyle Edmund. He managed to come back after being down in the third set, 1-5, and taking the Round 2 win, 4-6, 7-6, 7-6. Sock also defeated No. 17 seed Lucas Pouille and Fernando Verdasco to set up the semifinal against Benneteau. 

In the final, Sock is set to play qualifier Filip Krajinovic, who dismissed Sock’s compatriot John Isner, 6-4, 6-7, 7-6, in their semifinal brawl. The two have met only once previously, at the USTA Pro Circuit event in Savannah in 2014, where Sock won in three sets. 

Should Sock manage to topple the Serb in the final, he will qualify for his first ATP Finals, which are taking place at The O2 Arena in London from Nov. 12-19. The ATP Finals are the  premier season-end ATP event that showcases the top eight men in the world.

Currently, Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta holds the last spot, but will be edged out by Sock should he capture the crown in Paris. He could potentially become the first American ATP Finals qualifier since Mardy Fish in 2011 and the youngest man from America to debut at the tournament since 21-year-old Andy Roddick in 2003. 

A title in France would also elevate Sock’s ranking into the Top 10 of the Emirates ATP Rankings for the first time, which would make him once again the top-ranked American. 

"I had no idea I could still make London even if I was to win the tournament. I didn't know if I was going to be even close. I had a good start to the year and a very bad middle and towards the end of the year. To be able to regroup and get that confidence back and play some of the tennis I've been able to play in the last few matches is big for me," Sock told the ATP. "I should have been out first round here, in my first match, so I'm kind of just playing with house money now as you'd say. And just enjoying it."