Mumbai, August 21: A year after his marathon semifinal loss, Borna Coric avenged that defeat at the Winston-Salem Open, the Croatian getting the better of the top seed and defending champion, Sebastian Baez with a 6-3, 6-4 victory. Coric seems to have used the learnings from that match one year ago and came back roaring at the same event. The 27-year-old Croatian dropped just four points behind his first serve and held the advantage in lengthy baseline rallies to improve to 1-2 in his ATP head-to-head series with Baez. Just days after their three-hour 19-minute Winston-Salem meeting in 2023, Baez again defeated Coric in the US Open first round. Ben Shelton Leaves Coco Gauff Hanging After Winning a Point During Mixed Madness Match Against Paula Badosa and Stefanos Tsitsipas Ahead of US Open 2024, Video Goes Viral.
"I learned from that match, I was watching that match last night," Coric said of last year's loss at the ATP 250. I was prepared for the match and also it was much better for me that we played today while it was sunny. Last year we played in the evening, which was actually much, much slower," Coric was quoted as saying by ATP Tour on its website.
Into the Round of 16, the three-time tour-level titlist will next face 16th seed Rinky Hijikata. Earlier, American lucky loser Zachary Svajda earned the highest-ranked win of his career when he upset World No. 29 Francisco Cerundolo 6-4, 6-4.
The 21-year-old Svajda is up to No. 101 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings as he aims for his Top 100 debut. David Goffin defeated fifth-seeded Italian Luciano Darderi 6-2, 6-4 while 10th-seed Lorenzo Sonego beat Dominic Stricker 6-4, 6-1. Novak Djokovic Arrives in New York Ahead of US Open 2024, Set To Play a Featured Practice Match Against Juan Martin Del Porto (Watch Video).
In other Round of 32 matches played on Tuesday, American 11th seed Alex Michelsen defeated Hungarian Marton Fucsovic 7-6(3), 6-4, Belgiam's David Goffin stunned Italian fifth seed Luciano Darderi 6-2, 6-4 while Zizou Bergs of Belgium advanced at the expense of sixth-seeded Tomas Martin Etcheverry, handing the Argentine 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 21, 2024 11:41 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).