Borna Coric completed his incredible week in Cincinnati with his first Masters 1000 trophy! Borna took down Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6, 6-2 in an hour and 57 minutes in the title clash to lift the career-best trophy and make a perfect return. World no. 152 became the lowest-ranked Masters 1000 champion, beating five top-20 rivals and moving inside the top-30 again! Struggling with a shoulder injury, Borna missed almost the entire 2021 season, losing ground in the rankings and making a slow start in Indian Wells five months ago. The Croat claimed four ATP wins this year before Cincinnati, claiming one Challenger title but losing to a player ranked outside the top-300 just a month ago! Working hard on his game, Borna toppled Rafael Nadal in the second round in Cincinnati and delivered more notable victories to lift the trophy and write history books. The Croat became the first player with the Challenger and Masters 1000 title in the same season since Mikael Pernfors in 1993.
Borna Coric is the Cincinnati Masters winner.
Borna earned his second win over Stefanos from three encounters, overcoming a slow start and dominating since the tie break. The Croat had 29 winners and 14 unforced errors, overpowering his opponent in the serving department and from the baseline to emerge at the top. Coric played better behind the first serve and defended six out of seven break points to keep the pressure on the other side. Tsitsipas played against 12 break points and got broken three times to finish on the losing side. Nothing could separate them in the mid-range and most extended exchanges. Borna built the advantage in the shortest rallies up to four strokes, producing more service winners and doing damage with the first groundstroke. Tsitsipas made a promising start and broke in the encounter’s second game with a forehand winner. The Greek fired a service winner for a 3-0 advantage and repeated that in game five for 4-1 in 16 minutes.
Borna held at love in game six to reduce the deficit and seized the third break chance in the next one after Stefanos’ loose forehand. The Croat denied three break points in the eighth game to level the score at 4-4 and gain a boost. Tsitsipas erased a break point at 5-5 with an ace, and Coric held at 15 in the next one to introduce a tie break. The Croat was the only player on the court and claimed it 7-0 after the Greek’s forehand error for a massive boost. Coric fended off break points at the start of the second set and held at love in game five for 3-2. Tsitsipas hit a double fault in game six to fall behind and reached deuces from 40-0 down in the next one. Borna held after over ten minutes to produce a vital hold and open a 5-2 gap. Stefanos served to stay in the match in game eight and sprayed a forehand error to lose serve for the second time and hand the trophy to the 25-year-old Croat.