ROLAND GARROS

June 1, 2023

Borna Coric

Press Conference

B. CORIC/P. Cachin

6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. Borna, congratulations. You have played quite a lot of five-set matches. To me, when I think about you, you're always involved in dramatic five-set matches. Does it feel like that for you?

BORNA CORIC: Yeah, it does, to be honest, as well. I would love that it's not like that and that I can also win sometimes easy. Yeah, it is what it is. Here in the French Open this year, I can say I'm actually playing good tennis but not on my best level. I think that's why I just need to grind it out.

Q. You have a good record in five-setters, 8-4 now.

BORNA CORIC: Really? I don't know.

Q. Do you feel confident when you get to the start of that fifth set?

BORNA CORIC: Yeah, I was feeling comfortable, to be honest. I was feeling fit. I was not tired. I didn't have any pains in my body. I felt I could play for another maybe two hours.

So, yeah, I was feeling confident. I was a little bit unlucky on 1-All and Love-40. Didn't use my chance there. And then I just got broke and played a really, really poor game. Then, you know, you just need to grind it out, like I said.

Q. You have had many comebacks in your career, from injuries, from struggling, but each time you came back you came back at your best level at some point. What has been the key for you to always finding that best level back? It's not common. People take it for granted, but it's the hardest thing to do.

BORNA CORIC: Well, I just think -- I also heard the quote the other day I just like the process, you know, and when I was down, when I was injured, I knew I need to invest in the process.

Last year actually here in the French I lost in the second round. I was 6 and 1 in my matches or even worse actually. Then I lost another two matches on the challenger tour.

But, you know, I knew it doesn't take a lot for me to come back. So I just kept working. You know, I was also hoping that my shoulder is going to be fine, which it is. I knew it's gonna come. Well, I was believing it's gonna come.

You know, you just need maybe one or the two tournaments good, and then you're back in the top 50, top 60. Then you're back on tour.

Q. First time in the third round since 2019, I think.

BORNA CORIC: Yeah.

Q. How does that feel for a start? And also, can you talk about Etcheverry a bit, what kind of challenge he gives?

BORNA CORIC: It does feel great, obviously. Very, very happy to be in the third round. I won two very tough matches against very good, you know, the guys who are playing on the clay for most of the year, which is not the case for me. So I'm very, very happy with that.

And then on Etcheverry, actually we played last year in Perugia. He beat me very, very easily. That was actually my second match after the French Open.

Yeah, I thought this year, I think he's playing great. I was watching his match against Novak in Rome. It was very, very close match. I watched him couple other times, so I know how he plays. I have also played him last year. It's going to be very good match.

Now is the focus to recover. Tomorrow is going to be very, very easy day. Then I just need to focus.

Q. A little bit of an off-topic question. Donna Vekic mentioned that you and she had had some dinners before the tournament and that she'd even cooked you a salmon. Curious how you rate her as a chef and if you plan to return the favor if you haven't already?

BORNA CORIC: No, I don't. I don't plan to return the favor. I can just take her out for dinner, but I don't cook (smiling). So that's not gonna happen.

But, yeah, I was. I was actually also yesterday at hers. And again, salmon and rice. I like to eat clean on the tournaments, and as actually this year I'm not in the flat or in the house, so nobody can cook for me.

Yeah, she's staying in a flat, and, you know, we just text after practices. I said, you know, I'm gonna come again, so please cook something for me (smiling).