Borna Coric captured the first ATP title of his career after saving five championship points against Philipp Kohlschreiber in a thrilling final of the Grand Prix Hassan II on Sunday. Coric also battled back from breaks down in the second and third sets to triumph 5-7, 7-6(3), 7-5 after two hours and 38 minutes.
The 20-year-old Croat fought off all five match points while serving to stay alive at 5-6 in the second.
“I would say that’s my biggest comeback; I’ve never saved five match points,” Coric commented. “Especially in such an important match, I served very well in the big points. It’s an awesome feeling. I didn’t know what to expect when I came here and I wasn’t in the best shape. But I’ve been working very hard the past three or four months and now it’s paying off.”
“It’s one of those days where you have many good opportunities,” Kohlschreiber lamented. “It was a big fight and great drama in the end. Losing a match with match points and to be so close to the title is always very difficult. But it was a very good week for me. I played great tennis this week and I’m looking forward to more clay-court matches.”
Highlights:
At the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship, Steve Johnson won the second ATP title of his career by beating Thomaz Bellucci 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(5). Johnson trailed by a break in the third set and dealt with cramps but somehow managed to storm back for victory.
“To win on U.S. soil and win when you’re not feeling great is a testament to my willpower and competitiveness,” Johnson explained. “My body has just physically run out of gas after this week. Coming in from Australia kind of put me behind the eight ball and then the nerves of trying to close out the final, a lot of factors go into cramping. I was very fortunate to get out of that.
“I can think things through even when times are tough. I knew I just had to take a few deep breaths and just get enough going in my body to last another five to 10 minutes out there.”
“I wasn’t cramping, but I was so tired that I couldn’t think to win the match,” said Bellucci. “He was a little bit worse than me (physically), but he was playing unbelievably. I’m a little bit sad because I think I could have won, but I’m happy to make another final.”
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