Back and Better than Ever? Resurgent Coric Continues to Thrive in Cincinnti

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday August 19, 2022

Borna Coric was ranked 275 this spring and was still very much testing his surgically repaired right shoulder in elite level competition when he took the court at Roland-Garros and earned a victory over Grigor Dimitrov.

Originally doctors had told him that he’d make a swift recovery from surgery and likely get back to playing without four months. But after three and a half months Coric was nowhere near being ready to play.

It was a rough time for Coric but he eventually started to feel good enough to play and stepped back into the arena this spring at Indian Wells after more than a year off tour.

Fast forward five months and the 25-year-old is clearly feeling a lot better. This week in Cincinnati the proof is in the pudding, as Coric has parlayed his upset victory over Rafael Nadal in the second round into a run to the semifinals at a Masters 1000 for the first time since the fall of 2018.

Upset King 👑#CincyTennis | @borna_coric pic.twitter.com/tTdvN17ucq

— Western & Southern Open (@CincyTennis) August 20, 2022

With his current ranking of 152, Coric is the lowest-ranked player to reach the semifinals of a Masters event since 2003.

Coric’s ranking is also getting healthier also. He’s projected to hit No.66 in Monday’s rankings, even if he losses tomorrow’s semifinal with Cameron Norrie. Pretty nice for a weeks’ work.

On Friday Coric put the shoulder to the test as he served lights-out to defeat Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 6-4, never giving the Canadian a sniff at a break point as he won 31 of 32 first-serve points and averaged 124 MPH on the first serve.

The former World No.12 is looking like his old self – and if he can stay healthy for the next few years, maybe he can make a run at the Top-10.

For now it’s not important. Staying healthy is mission number one. Coric is riding the good vibes – and the serve – as he reminds those who may have forgotten that he is an elite player who can mix it up with the best in the game.