Young prospect Borna Coric was able to really kickstart his clay court swing yesterday, as he overcame Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky in a gripping three set encounter at the 250 series event in Bucharest. Going into the first round match Coric knew he'd have an up-hill battle ahead of him despite the surface being clay, as he struggled hugely with the Stakhovsky cat and mouse style the last and first time they met in recent February. Stakhovsky won the match that day in Zagreb 6-2, 6-4.
Stakhovsky played well, but it was also probably Coric's worst performance since he began competing on the senior tour, including challengers. I was struck that day just by how unstable Coric looked, both in his body language and his shot selection. I do believe Coric was feeling under quite a bit of pressure to live up to the award he received as ‘Youngster of the Year’ back in November last year. He was handed the trophy at the World Tour Finals event played at the O2 Arena in London. It meant not only was Coric dealing with the transition from the junior to the senior tour, but now an added expectation to live up to. Many expecting him to just explode up the rankings. Understandably the pressure took its tole and it showed in that match against Stakhovsky.
Since that time back in February it seems Coric has managed to clear his head and learn better to cope with the weight that is now on his shoulders. As luxury of being given a lucky loser spot into the main draw in Dubai 500, he capitalised and even beat Andy Murray, who although did have his mind on Great Britain's Davis Cup tie against the USA, is a difficult opponent for anyone. He finally fell to the great man Federer of course, in that tournament, but the run was just the injection of confidence, momentum and belief he needed to help him channel his focus and not get too side-tracked by all the noise of the media. You could say it also relieved a bit of pressure.
Part of the reason Stakhovsky was able to have such success in their match in Zagreb was the courts favoured him. They were fast and the bounce was low, this compliments his game as he is able to bring his net rushing, cat and mouse forecourt stuff to the table. He was smothering young Coric by coming to net on low chip and charge approaches. He exposed Coric's lack of skill moving up the court and dealing with low balls. Essentially Coric is very much producing his best tennis when he is within his comfort zone of hugging the baseline and Stakhovsky was able to get him out of that comfort zone. It was the constant switch-up in pace which Coric struggled to deal with that day.
Matters started out very differently in their encounter here in Bucharest however and as you would expect, with it being a higher bouncing clay court. Borna was earning more natural time on the ball and able to swing through his favoured backhand. It meant he actually was this time able to impose himself onto Stakhovsky, maneuvering the ball around and making effort to work himself into a front foot position in the the court. Coric's offensive and defensive game were both flourishing and he was no longer looking like the terrible Djokovic impressionist. He was actually looking a bit like, yes, a mini Novak. Stakhovsky had no real answers and lost the first set 6-2. That first set had also confirmed what this writer had already felt about Stakhovsky's game. It's not a game that naturally lends itself to a clay court, at least not without a lot of difficulty. While slice can deaden on the dirt and increase the likelyhood of a dodgy bounce, you're given much more time to work with on the ball and as an opponent use to your greater advantage rather than disadvantage like when receiving it on a fast hard, indoor or grass court. It also limits your success rate when coming to net if you're that occasional net rusher that Stakhovsky is, as unless it is quality slice approach or you have your opponent in no man's land, the guy at the other side is the one that is generally going to be the favourite to win the point. It is much, much easier to pass on a slower surface like clay.
The match wore on into the second set and the Ukranian had begun to adjust to the clay's occasionaly dodgy bounce, finding himself timing his important slice backhand much better. He was knifing it beautifully and even cutting through the clay to some degree, pressing Coric off into a backfoot position. This occasionally allowed him to get to the net and really test Coric's full ability on the pass. Stakhosky was finding success and it began to have a Zagreb dejavu feel and look about it, all over-all again. Coric was stressing and gesturing to his box and Stakhovsky ended up taking the set in a tiebreak by 7 games to 6.
Into the third set and much like the second, every game was going to deuce. Stakhovsky was working his cat and mouse magic, drawing Coric up the court where he was less comfortable and forcing him to play outside of his comfort zone. Stakhovsky was the one winning the majority of the longer ponts as he was able to put together patterns of play that succedded in manipulating Coric off that baseline and out of his robotic ground stroke rhythm/routine. In the end the lack of a real quality rally ball cost the Ukranian and Coric, despite missing three straight break points at 0-40 3-2 in the decider, was able to pull through. He showed a huge degree of champion grit, determination and character. (Coric took the tie breaker 7 points to 4).
This victory came as no real surprise, as the young Croat's best performances on main tour have come on clay. It is the surface that best suits him and his game at this stage of his career. Despite lacking a real killer weapon, he does have the movement and shots to play with aggressive control allowing him to construct points successfully on the surface. There are still many areas of Coric's game that need significant improvement if he is to make the meteoric rise to the top of the game. He is technically still not clean on the forehand as he needs to be at this level and that was clearly supported in his error count off that side. His return of serve needs improving and is far from young Djokovic's standards. As for Stakhovsky, I'd imagine he is probably already thinking about the grass court swing campaign. Coric plays Karlovic in the following round next, whereas Stakhovsky moves onto the ATP 500 series clay court tournament in Munich.