Jack Sock gets tennis lesson from Flavio Cipolla

Jack Sock passed up college to jump onto the professional tennis circuit, but he’s quickly getting an education on the court.

His flashes of brilliance Monday night were not enough to overcome the consistency ofItaly’sFlavio Cipolla, who defeated the 19-year-old American, 6-3, 6-1, in the first round of the Farmers Classic at UCLA’s L.A. Tennis Center.

Sock took a 2-1 lead in the first set, winning eight consecutive service points by unleashing a powerful delivery that Cipolla had difficulty handling. Sock appeared to have Cipolla reeling and unbalanced, but the Italian quickly made adjustments and broke Sock in five of his last six service games to run away with the match.

“I opened up serving very well in getting free points on my serve, which was what I tried to do,” said Sock, who lives in Overland Park, Kan. “Then I just started missing a lot of first serves and he started getting a lot of games and points.”

Cipolla’s steady play and pace proved to be too much for Sock to handle, as Cipolla won point after point with well-struck shots down the line, impressive volleys and a steady serve.

“I think it was a great match after a slow start,” said Cipolla, who is ranked 93rd in the world. “I had to face a few break points in the first two games, but then I think I played better and better. I managed to return his serve and then I was trying to not give him a rhythm. I was trying to play with angles, and I played a pretty solid match with not many mistakes.

“I think I played better and better in the second set after I was much more confident and I had the chance to break him.”

Sock’s frustration boiled over late in the second set. Upon reaching a Cipolla shot after it had bounced twice, he sent the ball for a ride over the bleachers and out of the stadium, a sign of the irritation Cipolla’s returns provoked.

“I wasn’t expecting him to be able to take every slice and keep it off the net on my forehand,” Sock said. “It’s usually a good game plan, but he played well and more credit to him.”

Sock, ranked 263rd, characterized this tournament — his third since returning from an abdominal and pelvic tear in March — as a learning experience as he continues to develop.

Cipolla advances to play third-seeded Leonardo Mayer of Argentina later in the week. Cipolla and Mayer will also be teammates in the doubles draw.

“Strategy I can’t say, but he’s a very good player,” Cipolla said. “He’s hitting the ball very well. He’s got a great serve and a very good forehand and backhand playing deep. It’s going to be a tough match.”

Earlier in the day, in a first-round doubles match, second-seeded Colin Ebelthite and recent Wimbledon men’s doubles champion Jonathan Marray were upset, 6-2, 1-6, 11-9, by Tobias Kamke and Bjorn Phau of Germany. Two weeks ago Marray, teaming with Frederik Nielsen of Denmark, became the first Briton to win a Wimbledon men’s doubles title in 76 years.

Paul Capdeville of Chile eliminated Russia’sIgor Kunitsyn, 6-4, 7-6 (5), in the first round of singles.

Three seeded players will play their first matches today.

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