Lasers bringing Wimbledon-winning player to Springfield

Photo provided by Springfield-Greene County Park Board

Jack Sock is slated to play in Springfield this Friday.

The Springfield Lasers are bringing Wimbledon-winning tennis player Jack Sock to the Queen City to help launch the team’s 2018 season.

Sock, who on July 14 with Mike Bryan won the Wimbledon men's doubles title, is scheduled to play in Springfield July 20 when the Lasers take on the Orange County Breakers, according to a news release.

The Lasers’ home season, dubbed World TeamTennis presented by Geico, starts tomorrow at the Cooper Tennis Complex, 2331 E. Pythian Ave. The Lasers lost in both of its first two away matches on July 15 against the San Diego Aviators and on yesterday against the Breakers, according to the team's website.

At Wimbledon, Sock and Bryan beat Michael Venus and Raven Klassen, who in 2017 played in Springfield as a member of the San Diego Aviators. Sock, 25, now has 12 doubles titles in addition to four singles titles. Sock, according to the release, won his first national open championship at age 11 during play at Springfield’s Cooper Tennis Complex.

Returning Lasers players include Abigail Spears, who made it to the semifinals in women’s doubles at Wimbledon, and Vania King, who helped lead the Springfield team to the WTT finals in 2013. Association of Tennis Professionals player Daniel Nestor is new to the Lasers this year.

Founded in 1996, the Lasers are managed by the Springfield-Greene County Park Board, according to the release.