Filip Krajinovic targets maiden ATP title while Jack Sock eyes ATP Finals spot
Maiden Masters 1000 title on offer for both players; Pablo Carreno Busta waits to see whether he will join eight-man field at the ATP Finals in London
Sunday 5 November 2017 17:17, UK
Filip Krajinovic and Jack Sock will go head-to-head in an unlikely Paris Masters final with plenty on the line in the French capital.
The Serbian qualifier, who has showcased supreme poise during his breakthrough tournament, will be hoping to claim a maiden ATP title at a prestigious Masters 1000 tournament on the season's calendar, while American Sock is targeting not only his own maiden Masters title at this level but a prized ticket to the season-ending ATP Finals, live on Sky Sports.
Meanwhile, Sock, who won the gold medal in the mixed doubles at the Rio Olympics last year, will go into the final as the overwhelming favourite bearing in mind his higher ranking and his greater tour-level experience.
The world No 22 will be well aware of the capabilities of the 25-year-old Krajinovic, who overcame Sock's compatriot John Isner in a tense three-set encounter on Saturday.
Pablo Carreno Busta will be Krajinovic's biggest supporter on Sunday in the knowledge that should the qualifier prevail in the final he will become the last player to book his place in the eight-man field in London at the O2.
The Serbian's improbable run to the final has come as a complete shock given he had only ever won one previous encounter at Masters 1000 level prior to this week.
"The emotions are amazing," said Krajinovic. "It was a tough mental match [against Isner]. He was serving really well, he was playing aggressive. I knew that that was going to happen.
"But when I served for the match, my hand was shaking. It was tough to control the emotions, but I knew I had to stay aggressive all the way to the end. I did it and it is the best day of my life.
"But the tournament is not over yet. I'll prepare for tomorrow and then we'll see. It's just another match and I'm playing against Jack Sock. I know him from juniors. He's a great player. I think it's going to be an interesting match. So I will give everything what I have to finish the year strong."
A victory for Sock would also see the talented American jump into the world's top 10 and become the first American qualifier at the season-finale since Andy Roddick in 2003.
"I had no idea I could still make London even if I was to win the tournament," said Sock. "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. 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."
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Head to Head
Sock and Krajinovic have never met in an ATP World Tour event with their only previous match coming in 2014 on the Challenger Tour in Savannah where Sock won in three sets.
The season-ending extravaganza ATP Finals at London's O2 this November ends another memorable year.
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