Connor Garnett competing at the Select Medical Orange County Cup presented by Reign Storm.
Connor Garnett competing at the Select Medical Orange County Cup presented by Reign Storm. PPA Tour

Pair of improbable comebacks helps Garnett defeat Sock, reach semis

You probably won’t win many games where you’re trailing 2-9, and certainly not when you’re down 0-10.

But that’s exactly what Connor Garnett did in his men’s singles quarterfinal against Jack Sock on Friday, coming away with an 11-9, 12-10 victory after facing massive deficits in both games.

The back-forth-nature of the contest is best exemplified by the second game, where Sock built up a 10-0 lead before Garnett scored 12 consecutive points on single side out to close it out.

 

“[Jack] can come out and just take over, so I just had to keep battling and keep fighting,” Garnett said of the performance. “Singles is a game of runs, so anything can happen. Super stoked to come out with this one.”

This isn’t the first time that Garnett has had to dig himself out of a hole this week.

In the Round of 16 against Grayson Goldin, he saved five match points in the second game before closing it out in the third.

“I think it’s just testament to how good singles is right now,” he mentioned. “Everyone out here is playing so well, and often you’ve got to fight through adversity to get the dub.”

Garnett, who is looking to make his second straight final on the PPA Tour, will face No. 2 seed Hunter Johnson on Semifinal Saturday.