PETE ZIEBRON
Last August at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, I watched in awe as then 19 year-old Borna Coric of Croatia saved Match Point to defeat Nick Kyrgios, then thrashed Rafael Nadal 6-1 6-3 in 72 minutes the following day. The convincing win over Nadal four and a half months ago would be the last victory Coric has enjoyed to date.
The following day after defeating the Spaniard to advance to the Cincy quarterfinals, Coric retired after losing the opening set 2-6 to eventual Champion and countryman Marin Cilic. Still not feeling 100%, Coric retired yet again in the opening set of his US Open encounter against Feliciano Lopez after just 7 games. Then Coric lost to Richard Gasquet in the Davis Cup semifinals a week later before shutting down his 2016 campaign.
The quarterfinal against Cilic was highly anticipated as Coric was playing with considerable confidence, especially after surviving a barrage of aces from Nick Kyrgios and then defeating Nadal with surprisingly considerable ease.
Just 47 days ago, Borna Coric turned 20 years old, yet it seems like he has been on the ATP Tour for a long time. This week, Coric is the #6 seed in the Chennai Open where he will face a qualifier to begin his 2017 season.
Coric also played quite well in Cincinnati in 2015. In his opening match, he played qualifier Alexander Zverev of Germany. The enthusiastic crowd on Grandstand Court appreciated the opportunity to watch two of the ATP Young Guns in action and the match did not disappoint. Coric saved a Match Point late in the third set and defeated Zverev 7-5 3-6 7-6(5) in 2 hours and 45 minutes. Next, Coric nearly defeated world #5 Stan Wawrinka before falling 6-3 6-7(3) 3-6.
Borna Coric enters 2017 ranked 48th in the world. He will attempt to win his first career title this year as well as surpass his career high of world #33 that he achieved in July 2015.