Borna Coric: Players on the ATP Challenger Tour are hungrier!

The ATP Challenger Tour might not immediately spring to mind as the place to achieve a rapid rise up the world rankings. But swapping the Sunshine Swing for the Challenger circuit was a gamble that paid off for Borna Coric, in more ways than one. The Croatian went on a stunning 16-match winning streak, winning three consecutive tournaments, and cemented his return to the Top 100 less than two months after dropping to No. 143.

Not only that, but he also collected his first-ever title on home soil. Coric's triumph on clay in Zadar, Croatia followed back-to-back hard court titles in Lugano, Switzerland and Thionville, France.

Asked by former world No. 25 Mischa Zverev if he had won three tournaments in a row at any level, Coric said possibly—in the 12-and-unders.

“I've never done it on the Challenger Tour or for sure on the ATP Tour,” he told Zverev in an exclusive interview on Tennis Channel. “It was definitely a special feeling, and I didn't expect to do it”

Going into those tournaments, that's for sure, I was just hoping to get in maybe a couple of matches, a couple of wins, but definitely didn't expect that! Borna Coric

The win in Croatia, surrounded by family and friends, was particularly special for the 28-year-old, although he admitted he was not exactly strict in his match-day preparations at home.

“I was just not in the tournament mode. I was having fun with my family I was going to the restaurants. I was not taking care so much of the sleep, when I'm going to sleep and stuff like that. I was just waking up,” he said.

“I was playing every day at 11 AM, besides the first match. That's my favorite time. I need to be honest, I was asking the tournament director for it. I like to wake up early, I like to play, and then I'm done for the day. I also know when I'm playing, that's my favorite part about it.”

“Going back to my roots”

Coric made the decision to drop down to the ATP Challenger Tour after struggling for consistency during 2024, when he finished the year 12-19. This season didn’t start any better, and first round exits at the Australian Open and the Montpellier 250 saw his ranking drop to 143rd. The Croatian then decided it was time for a reset—with the ATP Challenger Tour the perfect opportunity.

“My approach was definitely not to go there and to win in the tournament. My approach was just that I need to play matches because I've lost many first turns in a row and I didn't have enough matches in my opinion,” he explained.

I think once you win a couple of good matches, which I did on the first tournament, and I showed to myself that I can play good tennis again. I was really happy with my level. I was saying to my coaches, and I was saying I'm feeling like I'm back on a very good level. Borna Coric

For anyone who thinks the Challenger circuit could be an easier ride than the ATP Tour, Coric has a clear message.

"I really think sometimes it's actually tougher to play the Challengers than the ATP Tour because the guys are more hungry. Most of the guys are much younger and they are very hungry. They've never been on the tour. They need to earn the money.

“It's a little bit different vibe then on the tour as well because most of the tournaments, you get three practice balls for the whole day. It's a big hustle.

“It's not easy, but I was honestly enjoying my time as well. It brought me back to when I was 17 and playing Challengers. Back to the roots. I just had that mindset that obviously I need to win matches, I need to play more matches, and that's what's going to get me back in the form. That's what I did.”

For the love of the game

Coric’s ATP Challenger Tour winning streak was ended after 16 matches by none other than three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka. The Swiss’ straight-sets victory came a day before his 40th birthday—an example that Coric finds inspiring.

“Older guys, I think they're playing without stress,” he says. “Obviously, they're playing, I think, just not for the fun, but they just love the game and they enjoy to do that. I think they're just doing it for the love of the game.

“If I compare it to myself, I still play because I want to win a Slam and then maybe I want to go. I feel they are playing just for the love of the game. They’re really enjoying being on the Tour. That gives them the extra edge to play a little bit more freely and with not so much stress.”

So does Coric see himself playing into his forties like Wawrinka?

“I'm going to tell it straight away. I don't have another 15 years in me. I don't want to, honestly,” he smiled.

Maybe my perspective will change, but I definitely said that I, personally, from this perspective, now, I don't want to play longer than 34, 35. But I have a huge respect for those guys because I'm much younger, and to be honest, it's not easy for me to go to the Challengers. It’s a little bit different mentality out there. Borna Coric

“Big, big respect to those guys who are out there, obviously, hustling like Marin (Cilic) and like Stan. It's really unbelievable. It's also great to see. It gives me extra motivation because I feel really bad about myself and about my mentality when I catch myself thinking ‘why do I need to go and play the Challenger now?’

“Then I look at those guys and they're playing Challengers, and they've done 100 times more than me in tennis. I'm like, ‘OK, you need to shut up and you need to do it and you need to play and you need to fight.’”