Borna Coric tells Telegraf: "I know some are angry with me in Croatia, Novak is always Wimbledon favorite"

Photo: Mike Frey/BPI / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia

If he had avoided injuries in his career, Borna Coric would have been at least among the top 30 ranked tennis players for a long time. Now, he is trying to get back on track, and will have to look for new adventures outside of Wimbledon after losing to Frances Tiafoe in the second round.

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The Croatian tennis player was honest in his conversation with Telegraf and stressed that apart from the first set, his game was far from enough to defeat the American.

"He was a better player in general. From 2-4 to the tiebreak I felt good, I created chances. Everything else was below average, not enough against someone like him."

Are there pains, disturbances? What is the medical report?

"I don't feel it during the match, I would be happy if I could return a little better. I'm not too old and I'm not too young, it's not without pain so I can do whatever I want whenever I want. I'm not going to pay attention to that. It's far from an ideal situation. Elbow, muscle tears, but all athletes have problems."

You are still the best player in Croatia, but the best game is not there?

"It's bad, very bad, apart from maybe two tournaments, I didn't do anything good either in terms of results or tennis this season. At least I played better tennis, at least some matches. I lost but was an equal in Dubai, everything else was below average. I am where I deserve to be. The ranking doesn't lie. I'm unlucky that I didn't play last year, I missed 5-6 tournaments and for sure had I taken points there, I'd have reached 50-60 in the ranking. That's no excuse. As someone struggles to get the forehand into the court, so someone struggles with the body. It's all part of the sport and it's up to you to make the best of it."

The Croatian public resented the fact that you did not play for the Davis Cup national team?

"I understand Croatia and the Croatian people who are angry about it and who cannot understand it. At my age, I work with my body, I do what is best at the moment, and others might want me to do something else. I've been playing Davis Cup since I was 16, I also got injured at Davis Cup, there are a lot more details... I wouldn't go into that, those details are about my body. Sometimes I want to rest, not to go to the seaside, but to recover my body, that's worth its weight in gold. If I was 20th in the world, everything would be easier. I don't have to play next week after the Davis Cup because I would care, but I have to play. I said at the beginning of the year that I would devote myself to myself and my body. Maybe it can extend my career. I understand that someone will resent me, but I will do what is best for me."

Novak managed to recover from surgery, they even called him a superman?

"It's fantastic that he came back after three weeks. I talked to him, I know what operation he had. Still, at his age, they want him to risk a return to Wimbledon. In my opinion, he is always the top favorite at Wimbledon. He wouldn't enter the  tournament if he didn't think he could win it. He's very close to one hundred percent. As long as he plays Wimbledon, he is the first favorite."

Has there already been a generational change, and did it happen quietly?

"I think Novak is sustaining that illusion. And Rafa, although he is struggling. Novak is Novak and there is only one of him, rarely anyone maintains such a level. But, I think there has been a change of generations even though Djokovic is still holding the moment together," concluded Coric.

(Telegraf.rs)