Jack Sock/Eric Roddy are off to a winning start in San Clemente after a 5-11, 11-7, 11-7 victory over No. 35 seeds Stephen Madonia/Edward Perez.

But the story of the match came from something other than the score line.

After getting tagged out of the air by Madonia in the second game, Sock responded by rifling his very next serve at his opponent for a successfully executed Nasty Nelson.

The former tennis star was quick to deny any ill will when asked about the moment after the match.

“I’m not upset. It’s part of the game. It’s a strategy. I caught him sleeping at the net, we need some momentum, needed to change the matchup, so I had to go for it,” he explained. “We’re homies. It’s all love. People always think people are mad when they try that, but it’s just a tactic.”

Regardless of Sock’s intent, I think we can all celebrate the fact that he’s going for those shots with a pickleball paddle instead of a tennis racket.

No. 3 seeds Christian Alshon/Andrei Daescu await in the Round of 32.