Coric Battles Past Felix In Rome Opener

Borna Coric, the No. 13 seed, was made to work hard on Monday at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome for his 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-4 win over #NextGenATP Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime. With his first victory at the Foro Italico, the Croatian will now play Australia’s John Millman or British qualifier Cameron Norrie in the second round.

Coric led his 18-year-old opponent 4-2 in the first set, but was made to pay for a slow start in the tie-break. He won the first three games of the second set and broke in the opening game of the decider en route to victory in two hours and 30 minutes.

Auger-Aliassime, at No. 30 in the ATP Rankings, is the youngest player in the Top 30 since Lleyton Hewitt (at No. 22) in 1999.

Elsewhere, 2010 Rome semi-finalist Fernando Verdasco knocked out Kyle Edmund of Great Britain 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 in two hours and 23 minutes for a clash against fifth-seeded Austrian Dominic Thiem.