Borna Coric won the biggest title of his career Sunday, dismissing Roger Federer, 7-6, 3-6, 6-2, in the final of the Gerry Weber Open in Halle, Germany.
The 21-year-old Coric entered Halle with a 2-7 record on grass. But he played the best grass-court tennis of his career at the tournament, beating No. 2 seed and two-time finalist Alexander Zverev in the first round, followed by Nikoloz Basilashvili in the second round, Andreas Seppi in the quarterfinals, Roberto Bautista Agut in the semifinals and Federer in the final.
With his latest win, Coric snapped Federer's 20-match wining streak on grass and kept the Swiss maestro from lifting his 10th title in Halle. He served 11 aces against Federer in the final and saved three of four break points in the match.
Here's more on the ascending 21-year-old from Croatia.
The Borna Coric File
Age: 21
Birthplace: Zagreb, Croatia
Current Rank: 21
Career-High Rank: 21 (June 2018)
Best US Open Finish: Third Round, 2017
The Baseline
- Coric's win in Halle was the second of his career on the ATP World Tour. His maiden title came last year at the Grand Prix Hassan II in Marrakech, Morrocco, where he came back to defeat Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber, 5-7, 7-6, 7-5, in the final.
- In his young career, Coric has notched wins against some of the biggest names in the game, including Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal before he was 19 years old. His most recent win against Federer takes him to a new high of 6-13 against Top 5 players. He has yet to beat Novak Djokovic, falling to the Serb in both of their meetings.
- In 2014, at the age of 18, Coric finished as the youngest player in the Top 100 of the ATP rankings and, along with Nick Kyrgios, was one of only two teenagers on the list. In 2015, he finished the season as the youngest player in the world's Top 50.
- The Croat's best US Open finish to date came in 2017, when in Round 2, he dismissed Alexander Zverev in a four-set marathon match, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6, 7-6, before falling to 2017 US Open finalist Kevin Anderson in the third round.
- In 2013, Coric took the US Open boys' title, defeating Australia's Thanasi Kokkinakis, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1, in the final.
They Said It!
"It is the most unbelievable feeling [to beat Federer]. I looked up to him when I was younger, watching his matches back at home with my mum, my dad and my sister. Just playing him here today was a very special moment, and beating him just makes it even bigger for me." – Coric told ATPWorldTour.com after defeating Roger Federer in the Halle final on Sunday.
