Reuters
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After the full-time finance pro stunned former world No. 8 Jack Sock in his ATP Tour main draw debut at the Delray Beach Open on Tuesday, Matia Pekotic may have to give up his day job.
The 33-year-old Croatian qualifier, director of capital markets for Wexford Property Investors – an affiliate of $4bn investment firm Wexford Capital – rallied to defeat Sock 4-6 6-2 6-2.
Pecotic reached a career ranking of #206 in 2015, but retired from the sport due to complications from stomach surgery. He then attended Harvard Business School and rediscovered his love for the game.
Pekotic won in front of his boss, who is a long-time friend of his coach, Dominik Hrbaty.
“I had to leave work early today,” Pekotich joked. “I had to send an email to the whole team. My boss sent me. I will have to ask for another day off tomorrow.”
World No. 784, who will next meet Marcos Giron, said the first-round win over Sock was unexpected, but he didn’t approach the match thinking he had no chance.
“You have to be realistic,” Pekotich said.
“This is a former top 10 guy with great tennis experience and great service. He hit 134 mph on the first serve. It would be presumptuous to think that I would come out and expect to win.
“But I thought if I could sink my teeth into a match and work on the two or three patterns I’d made before, I’d have a chance.”
