Streaking Borna Coric wins third straight ATP Challenger title

Borna Coric opted out of the Sunshine Swing in an effort to rebuild his ranking and the gamble is paying off: the former world No. 12 is closing in on a Top 100 return after winning a third straight ATP Challenger title on Sunday.

Coric dropped over 100 spots in the rankings since last year, struggling for consistency following a runner-up finish in Montpellier last February. Failing to defend those points sent him down to a low of No. 143 and back to the Challenger circuit, where he promptly began a 15-match winning streak.

The run has taken him to back-to-back hard-court titles in Lugano and Thionville, and the Croat pulled off an effortless switch to clay, winning at home in Zadar, Croatia with the loss of just one set.

“It feels great. I’m very happy that I was playing very good tennis. It was not easy conditions today," Coric told the ATP website. "I’m just happy to be through and to celebrate this title.”

The 28-year-old has dealt with injuries throughout his career, missing most of the 2021 season due to a shoulder issue that required surgery. He returned in epic fashion the following year by winning his first Masters 1000 title at the Cincinnati Open, getting within two spots of his career-high ranking by the summer of 2023.

I’m just happy I am back at my level where I was before and I’m again feeling great on court,” he said last week. “Hopefully I can recover now and continue on this path.”

Coric is now back to No. 112 in the ATP rankings as he aims to continue his streak in Naples where, as the No. 7 seed, he will open against world No. 132 Harold Mayot.