Coric Faces Garin in Australian Open Clash Amid Struggles

MELBOURNE, Australia — Borna Coric and Christian Garin are set to face off in the Australian Open on January 14, 2025, at 02:30 CEST, in a match that could define their early-season form. Coric, a former world number 12, has struggled recently, losing three of his last five matches. Despite a disappointing 2024 season, Coric showed promise in the United Cup, defeating Auger-Aliassime in three sets.

Coric’s performance in Melbourne has been inconsistent. Last year, he fell in the opening round to Frances Tiafoe in four sets. His best result at the Australian Open came in 2019 when he reached the fourth round before losing to Lucas Pouille. “I know I haven’t been at my best, but I’m working hard to turn things around,” Coric said in a recent interview.

Christian Garin, on the other hand, has won three of his last five matches. The Chilean player, known for his prowess on clay courts, successfully qualified for the main draw in Melbourne after a tough qualifying round. Garin defeated Dellien in straight sets to secure his spot. However, his record on fast courts like those in Melbourne is less impressive. Last year, Garin lost in the opening round in a grueling five-set match.

Bookmakers have Coric as the slight favorite, citing his superior hard-court skills despite his recent struggles. “Even though Borna has been inconsistent, he still has the edge on hard courts,” said David, a tennis analyst based in Zagreb, Croatia. “We expect him to dominate this match.”

In another notable match, Zhizhen Zhang will face Holger Rune. Zhang has lost four of his last five matches and has never advanced past the second round in Melbourne. Rune, despite a disappointing 2024 season, is favored to win. “Holger is out of form, but he’s still a better hard-court player than Zhang,” David added. “We expect him to win comfortably.”

As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on these players to see if they can overcome their recent struggles and make a deep run in the Australian Open.