De Minaur defeats Coric, into Zhuhai semifinals
In their first meeting, Alex de Minaur gets the better of Borna Coric to advance to the semifinals in Zhuhai, where Roberto Bautista Agut awaits.
Zhuhai, China, 28 September 2019 | tennis.com.au
Alex de Minaur advanced to his third ATP Tour semifinal of 2019 with a three-set win over Borna Coric on Friday night in Zhuhai.
The Australian, seeded seventh, upstaged the No.4 seed 6-2 4-6 6-4 in a physically punishing match featuring several thrilling baseline rallies.
De Minaur, the champion in Sydney and Atlanta this season, will face world No.10 Roberto Bautista Agut for a place in the final.
https://twitter.com/atp_tour/status/1177583868762832903?s=21
De Minaur was exceptional in the opening set, beating Coric in just about every facet in the game — consistency, speed, power and depth.
The young Aussie broke the world No.14 immediately to open the second set and had three break points for a 3-0 lead.
Despite not converting those and dropping serve in the next game, De Minaur broke Coric again in the seventh game — only for Coric to break straight back.
That formed part of a four-game run for Coric, but once De Minaur held in the second game of the third set, his frustration seemed to dissipate and his focus returned.
He broke Coric in the following game and never looked back, maintaining his advantage to run out a winner in two hours and 18 minutes.