Jack Sock — once a top-10 ATP tennis pro and a three-time Grand Slam doubles champion — reached the men’s singles final at the 2026 Pickleball World Championships, falling to 17-year-old John Lucian Goins 11–5, 12–10. For a sport still winning over crossover fans, a familiar tennis name on the biggest Championship Sunday of the year is a genuine milestone. — Jason Regan, Regan Family Pickleball
From Grand Slam doubles to a pickleball final
Sock walked away from pro tennis and bet on pickleball — and at the sport’s biggest event of the year, the bet paid off with a run to the Worlds singles final. He pushed Goins to 12–10 in the second game before the teenager closed it out. For a 30-something former tennis star to out-last a stacked singles draw says plenty about how transferable elite racquet skills can be.
What Jack Sock plays
Sock swings a Selkirk paddle on his signature Invikta shape — an elongated profile that rewards his tennis-driven reach and drive. It’s a telling choice: the Invikta’s longer face suits a player who grew up swinging a tennis racquet, and it’s one of the most popular crossover shapes for exactly that reason.
Why this matters for New England players
Plenty of our local players came to pickleball from tennis, and Sock’s run is proof those instincts travel. If you’re making the switch, the right paddle shape matters — see how the pros set up on our paddles hub, and keep up with every tour storyline at Pro Corner.
