Borna Coric
reached his first semifinals at the Madrid Open after defeating Daniel
Altamaier 6-3, 6-3.
Without
major problems, the Croatian prevailed over Altmaier in just 1 hour and 15
minutes. Coric didn't concede any break point opportunities to his opponent and
was relentless with his first serve, winning 90% of them. The German didn't
have any chances on return and only won nine points when Coric was serving.
The World
No. 20 imposed his favoritism over Daniel Altmaier who was one of the great
surprises of the 2023 Madrid Open, entering the main draw as a lucky loser and
defeating his compatriots Oscar Otte and Yannick Hanfmann, as well as the local
player Jaume Munar. Coric's path was not easy, as he had to overcome Hubert
Hurkacz in the third round and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the round of 16,
playing an epic tie-break in the third set.
The
Croatian has returned to his best form, having suffered five consecutive
defeats before arriving in Madrid. His last victory had been against Thanasi
Kokkinakis on March 1st. In the first set, a single break in the fourth game
was enough for Coric to take a 6-3 lead.
In the
second set, the champion of the 2022 Cincinnati Masters got a break and won
eight consecutive points to take the lead. A new break in the ninth game gave
him the set 6-3, leaving good feelings for his first semifinal in the Madrid
Open and the first in a clay Masters 1000.
In the semifinal, he will have a
tough challenge against the first seed Carlos Alcaraz in a match that will be
played on Friday, May 5th.
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
INTO THE SEMI-FINALS
@borna_coric takes out Daniel Altmaier 6-3 6-3 to reach his first ATP Masters 1000 semi-final on clay! 🧱
@MutuaMadridOpen | #MMOPEN