By Chris Oddo | Saturday, January 9, 2016
Borna Coric reached his first ATP final and set up a date with Stan Wawrinka in Chennai.
Photo Source: The Hindu
19-year-old Borna Coric became the youngest player to reach an ATP final since 2008 when he edged Great Britain’s Aljaz Bedene, 7-6(5), 6-7(5), 6-3, to reach the final of the Aircel Chennai Open.
Coric led all teenagers in wins in 2015 and he’s already made it clear in Chennai that a sophomore slump isn’t in his plans.
Coric broke at love in the eighth game of the final set and served out the match in the final game to clinch a hard-fought victory over the world No. 45. Though Bedene is not known for his prowess, he had entered the match with a 12-3 record at Chennai, and he’s getting a reputation as a player on the rise.
The same can be said for Coric, who had previously gone 0-3 in ATP-level semifinals, but is considered by some to be the cream of the crop of ATP’s rising stars.
Coric’s next challenge will be more stern. The Croatian will face three-time and two-time defending Chennai champion Stan Wawrinka, who won his 11th consecutive match at Chennai by downing his good friend Benoit Paire, 6-3, 6-4.
Wawrinka saved the only break point he faced to improve to 5-1 vs. Paire.
Coric fell to Wawrinka in straight-sets last season in the round of 16, and later faced the Swiss again in Cincinnati in a much closer match, which he lost 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-3.
Wawrinka will be bidding for his 12th career title on Sunday.
Coric, the youngest ATP finalist since Kei Nishikori reached the Delray final in 2008, is also the first teen to reach an ATP final since Marin Cilic did so in that same year.