DAVIS CUP FINALS

September 17, 2022

Borna Coric

Team Croatia

Press Conference

B. CORIC/F. Cerundolo

6-4, 7-6

Croatia - 2

Argentina - 0

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations. What a way in giving again these chances to Croatia to qualify for the Finals. After a defeat 3-Love in the first day, did you imagine to be in this point after that first day?

BORNA CORIC: Yeah, to be honest, I did, because we knew against Italy it's going to be a hard doubles match, and we were kind of prepared. Not for that scenario obviously. Obviously we were hoping to win or to win my match at least.

But we were prepared also to lose. You know, in a way in our head we knew we needed to stay calm and we need to stay positive. I think that's what we did exactly. We didn't panic, we didn't go into the panic mode, like, Oh, now we lost 3-0, it's panic. We just stayed calm. We were positive, and I think in the end it did pay off, yeah.

THE MODERATOR: How did you see your level after the first day? How happy are you with the way you're performing?

BORNA CORIC: I was happy also with my level on the first day, to be honest. I just thought Matteo was better. He was playing some really good tennis, and I couldn't say much. I felt in some moments I was a little bit unlucky, but in the end he was better player on the court.

But my level was still good. He's, in my opinion, on this surface, top 5 or top 10 in the world, so I can lose to him, that's fine.

And then in the next two matches, yeah, I felt for sure the best today on the court. Also physically, mentally, and tennis-wise. So I felt like today was my peak of my performance, which was good, because I would say it was the most important match.

THE MODERATOR: How much will you be cheering for Italy tomorrow?

BORNA CORIC: A lot. I will have my wine, I'm going to relax, and I'm going to put it on TV. Very nice scenario. Will be back home in Zagreb, have a big TV in my place and I can rest tomorrow and on Monday, as well, probably, because a very tough week for me.

So I'm going to enjoy, I'm going to watch Italy, and I'm gonna cheer for the guys.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. First of all, congratulations. Haven't seen you in Cincinnati, so congratulations for that, too.

BORNA CORIC: Thank you.

Q. Well, last year Croatia was in the final, lost only to Russia. There was no Coric. Gojo played. Now you will have this new Coric and Cilic probably.

BORNA CORIC: Hopefully, yeah.

Q. How big are the chances that Croatia not only qualify but can even win Davis Cup, in your opinion?

BORNA CORIC: Yeah, I think, first, Italy needs to win tomorrow, and then everything is going to be easier for us, because then they're going to be there in Malaga. Otherwise we cannot win the tournament if we are not there. So like I said before, we are going to be cheering for Italy tomorrow.

And, you know, once we are there, I think if we are all healthy, me, Marin, also Gojo as the third player, with the doubles, which we have, which are one of the best in the world, I think, you know, I think we are up there, one of the favorites to win the tournament but also other teams are extremely good. You know, there is not one team which I would pick, which I would like to play, to be honest.

It's going to be very tough, like every tournament nowadays. Yeah, obviously I'm sure we can win it, but also we can lose in the first round there, as well. It's going to be very interesting, for sure, but I think if we are healthy, if we are in good form, Marin has been playing extremely well this season. I think he's back in his 20s, so that's also good for us.

Q. Someone says that no other team has a No. 2 player as strong and as good as Berrettini, also in terms of ranking. You could be No. 2 if Cilic gets there. So do you agree on that, or after you play, what is your opinion about it?

BORNA CORIC: Well, he just beat me, so I don't need to agree on that, that he's the best No. 2 in the world, because I cannot say I am the best because he just beat me two days ago (smiling).

Yeah, for sure, I had really good moments in the Davis Cup. I always like playing in Davis Cup, and I always felt like I'm playing my best tennis in the Davis Cup, so I could say I'm also pretty good No. 2.

But of course, you know Matteo, he's top 10 or top 15, I'm not sure. Even in ranking-wise, he's better than me. He's probably better No. 2 than me. I'm not sure what to say, but he also did beat me two days ago, so that's it.

Q. Croatia is a strong, strong tradition now in Davis Cup. You won the Davis Cup with Ljubicic in 2005.

BORNA CORIC: '04, I think, but, yeah.

Q. Then you are the last winner of the traditional Davis Cup.

BORNA CORIC: Yes.

Q. How do you see the difference between the traditional Davis Cup and the new one? Because the other day the president of ITF said only France thinks that the old one was better. Croatia, what do you think for Croatia between the two Davis Cup? Which one do you like the most?

BORNA CORIC: I'm gonna be very political here, but not because I want or because I'm scared to say. I do really think, you know, there is good thing and a bad thing from both sides, honestly. It's my honest opinion, and I said it also.

Q. Which one?

BORNA CORIC: I cannot choose. If I need to say from the perspective of the -- you know, if I can say that I'm gonna be playing in Zadar or in Zagreb, in my hometown with my people, with 10,000 people, of course I like that more.

Here has been nice, but there is 200 people maybe. Malaga is maybe going to be 300 people of Croatia. And it's for sure much different feeling when we are playing at home and everything happens at home in Zadar or in Zagreb, like happened against America. From that perspective, I like more the old one.

But from the perspective as a player, especially who has, you know, the shoulder, I'm not so young anymore, I'm not old but also not very young, and the old format was taking a lot from me, and I knew I would lose four weeks there in whole calendar year, and I cannot play the next week, as well, because I'm completely dead. So if you play Final, that's basically eight or nine weeks in the year which I could use for the preparations for my body to be good, which now I can use more, or I can play tournaments or I can use it for the preparation.

So from the perspective of the player I would say I like this format more, just giving more chance to work on my body and to rest sometimes when I need to rest. It's just much, much easier. We are not playing on five sets as well, which is a huge difference. If I play on Friday five sets and if I play on Sunday five sets, at least seven days I cannot play. It's a completely different feeling as well.

I cannot play the next week, and probably even the week after that I'm very tired, and just empty, you know, if you know what I mean. From that perspective I like this more.

You know, sometimes I miss the old format for sure. But then when I realize that I have probably five or six weeks more to prepare my body for the whole year, then I like this format more.

Q. The music band is terrible. What do you think about? Do you like it?

BORNA CORIC: I don't agree they are terrible, honestly. I don't know. Why would you say that? I think they are pretty good, honestly.

They cheered me up really good in the whole match. I was really happy with them. Honestly they helped me on 5-4. I was down 5-4, Love-15. You know, for sure if I didn't have them, I would probably go a little bit down there and maybe lose the set 6-4. I completely disagree with you, with all due respect.