“It’s going to be a lot easier,” Borna Coric reflects on Roger Federer’s retirement
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Roger Federer and Borna Coric
Borna Coric started his career when The Big Three- Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic, were at the top of their game. The highest-ranked Croatian also got the opportunity to play against the best players of his short career. He faced them in various tournaments in multiple seasons but survived to tell the tale.
The 26-year-old started his professional career in 2013 and has made giant strides ever since. He missed out on most of the 2021 season due to a shoulder injury. However, he came back in 2022 to win the first ATP 1000 tournament i.e., the Cincinnati Masters title.
As the World No.26 braces himself to start his journey into the 2023 season, he looks back upon the 2022 season. Many great events took place. The retirement of Roger Federer was the highlight of the season. He played his last match as a doubles pair with Rafael Nadal at the Laver Cup 2022 in London.
“It is an honour to play against them. I also did very well against them and played some of the best tennis of my career. I’ve said many times that I like the big crowds and big stages. When you play against them, that’s a guarantee. It’s strange now that Federer is not around anymore, but it is also going to be a little bit easier for many players. He has done amazing things for the sport,” he said in an interview.
Borna Coric vs Roger Federer: Head-to-Head
Roger Federer has won twenty Grand Slams in his career and many other tournaments. Many players struggled against him. But Borna Coric is one of those players who boast the record of defeating the Swiss legend.
Borna Coric has a difficult record against Roger Federer. He registered more losses than wins against the Swiss legend. He holds a 2-4 loss-win record. However, the year 2018 was a great year for the Croatian as he defeated the 20-time Grand Slam champion twice. He beat him in the final of the Halle Open 7-6, 3-6, 6-2. He also beat him in the semi-final round of the Shanghai Masters 6-4,6-4. But since then, he has lost against the Swiss whenever they have met.
However, still he thinks that playing against him was a great experience.
“I was really able to focus on the match against Federer because I tried not to think about the other aspects. It was just me against him and that is the way I try to treat every match. Once I get into the match, I don’t think any more about who I am against and what they have achieved,” he continued.
Although, Roger Federer may have retired from the sport, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are still going strong. However, Borna Coric too, is fully fit and ready to take on the challenges of the 2023 season.
Also Read: Nick Kyrgios credits his girlfriend Costeen Hatzi as the ‘secret weapon’ behind the 2022 turnaround
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