Reuters
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Matija Pekotic may have to consider quitting his day job after full-time finance professional stunned former world No. 8 Jacques Sock in his ATP Tour main draw opener at the Delray Beach Open on Tuesday.
The 33-year-old Croatian qualifier, who is director of capital markets for Wexford Real Estate Investors – an affiliate of $4 billion investment firm Wexford Capital – rallied to beat Soc 4-6 6-2 6-2.
Pekotic reached a career-high No. 206 ranking in 2015 but temporarily sidelined with complications following abdominal surgery. He then went on to attend Harvard Business School, where he rediscovered his love for sports.
Pekotic sealed the victory in front of his boss, who is a longtime friend of his coach, Dominik Harbati.
“I had to leave work early today,” Pecotic joked. “I had to send an email to the whole team. My boss left me. I have to ask for another day off tomorrow.”
The world number 784, who meets Marcos Giron in the next round, said the opening round victory over Sock was a surprise, but he did not approach the match thinking he had no chance.
“You have to be realistic,” Pekotic said.
“This is a former top 10 guy with an incredible amount of tennis experience and a big serve. He hit 134 mph on the first serve. It would be arrogant to think that I would come out and expect to win.
“But I thought if I could sink my teeth into the match and work on the two or three patterns I’d already designed, I’d have a chance.”
