Coric: "I Was Pushing Him To The Limits"
Most players would be down on themselves after surrendering multiple leads to Roger Federer in the semi-finals of an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event.
But Borna Coric isn’t most players.
The 2017 Next Gen ATP Finals semi-finalist burst onto the scene early in his young career, defeating the likes of Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray as a teenager and claiming his maiden ATP World Tour title last year in Marrakech at the age of 20. He showed his promise to a packed Indian Wells Tennis Garden on Sunday in his maiden Masters 1000 semi-final, pushing Federer to the brink — leading by a set and 4-2, and then later a break on two separate occasions in the third set — before falling in three tight sets.
Coric might have lost, but he’s not getting down on himself.
“I was really surprised how well I played, how much pressure I was putting on him, and I was also enjoying it. We were pushing -- I think I was pushing him to the limits. He pushed me to the limits, for sure,” said the Croatian, with a smile.
“I need to look at it from the positive side definitely, just the whole tournament, and this match, as well. I played a great match. I was very close. I just didn't take all the chances."
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After the match, Federer was complimentary of the 21-year-old.
"I think he played a great tournament, beat some great players early in the tournament easily, and that's going to give him a world of confidence. Then he won the close ones except this one today. But okay. That's okay. I think he can take a lot out of this match and also the whole week and move forward from here," said the Swiss.
Coric returned the favour in his press conference, citing the challenges of playing Federer.
“Everything. You don't know what to expect,” said Coric. “You don't know what's he's going to play next, what spin, which angle, pretty much everything, really. It's completely different level.
“But again, today, I was really, really playing really good, I was aggressive and I was pushing him to the limits, but at the end he was better player.”
Coric, who is now 11-4 in 2018, heads to Miami for the second ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event of the season. He leaves the Coachella Valley having earned 360 ATP Ranking points and $327,965 in prize money thanks to his efforts in Indian Wells.
He also brings the momentum of a breakthrough week.
“I think the momentum is up, definitely. Hopefully I can stay healthy, and I can continue to play like that. You know, how I'm going to play in Miami or Monte-Carlo, I don't know, but I'm going to give my best, for sure,” said the World No. 49, who will rise back into the Top 40 in the ATP Rankings, nearing his career-high of No. 33 from 2015.
“I'm going to try to do the same things, try to focus on myself and just see what's going to happen.”