Tennis: Equity firm director posts shock win over former world No. 8 Jack Sock
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Matija Pecotic reached a career-high ranking of 206 in 2015.
PHOTO: ATPTOUR.COM
LOS ANGELES – Matija Pecotic should perhaps consider giving up his day job after the full-time finance professional stunned former world No. 8 Jack Sock on his ATP Tour main-draw debut at the Delray Beach Open on Tuesday.
The 33-year-old Croatian qualifier, who is a director of Capital Markets for Wexford Real Estate Investors – an affiliate of the US$4 billion (S$5.3 billion) investment firm Wexford Capital – rallied to beat Sock 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.
Pecotic reached a career-high ranking of 206th in 2015 but temporarily quit the sport due to complications following stomach surgery.
He was bedridden for eight months after picking up an infection. After his recovery, he was accepted into Harvard Business School, where he rediscovered his love for the game.
He sealed the win in front of his boss, who is a long-time friend of his coach Dominik Hrbaty.
“I had to leave work early today,” joked Pecotic. “I had to send an e-mail to the whole team. My boss let me off. I’m going to have to ask for another day off tomorrow.”
The world No. 784 will meet 55th-ranked American Marcos Giron next.
While his opening-round win over Sock was unexpected, he did not approach the match thinking he did not have a chance.
“He came out serving 134mph (216kmh) on the first serve. It would be arrogant to think I’m going to come out and expect to win,” said Pecotic, who usually trains before his 9am-6pm job and hits the gym or goes for a run after work.
“But I figured if I could sink my teeth into the match and work on the two or three patterns I prepared before, that I’m going to have a chance.
“And then let’s see... if I was going to fall under pressure or not be able to serve it out at some point. But I didn’t and I got the win.” REUTERS