Coric Closes In On Second ATP World Tour Final

Next Generation player Borna Coric is one match win away from reaching his second ATP World Tour final.

Third seed Coric hit 12 aces to beat Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-7(6), 6-3, 6-4 in three hours and seven minutes on Friday at the Grand Prix Hassan II. Mathieu, who won the 2007 title when the tournament was played in Casablanca, saved 11 of 14 break point opportunities.

“It was a very tough match, obviously,” said Coric. “I didn’t feel confident as I had yet to play a match here, so I was a little nervous. I was extremely happy how I played, but I was a little unlucky in the tie-break when I didn’t play well on the important points. I just have to keep fighting.”

The 19-year-old Coric, who reached the Aircel Chennai Open final (l. to Wawrinka) in January, goes on to face eighth seed Jiri Vesely, who upset top seed Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-4, 7-6(2). The 22-year-old Czech saved all three break points he faced in the one hour, 52-minute victory. Both Coric (2014) and Vesely (2013) are past winners of the ATP Star of Tomorrow presented by Emirates.

Earlier in the day, 35-year-old Albert Montanes defeated Facundo Bagnis 6-1, 7-5 in 75 minutes. Bagnis was contesting his first tour-level quarter-final.

Montanes will next face fourth seed Federico Delbonis, who recorded his 13th win of the year to overcome seventh seed Pablo Carreno Busta 7-5, 6-2.

Argentines Reach Doubles Final

Guillermo Duran and Maximo Gonzalez advanced to the title match when they defeated third seeds Mate Pavic and Michael Venus 5-7, 6-4, 10-7 in one hour and 46 minutes. They will challenge Marin Draganja and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi on Saturday.