IT’S OVER: Winners of the boys singles posing with Morshidi (centre), SLTA president and organising chairman Dato Patrick Liew (second left) and organising committee members after the prize presentation.
KUCHING: Croatian challenger Borna Coric capped a brilliant week of tennis in Kuching when he won the boys singles and doubles titles in the 21st Sarawak Chief Minister’s Cup (I) ITF Junior Circuit (Grade 1) at the Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association Tennis Centre.
The ITF No. 6 and tournament’s top seed remained unbeaten in the boys singles competition after he overcame a strong challenge from South Korea’s Kang Ku Keon in the final.
Coric had taken the first set 6-3 but lost his focus in the second, losing 5-7 to the ITF No. 62 Kang in the second set.
He regained his composure in the decider, beating Kang 6-3 in the marathon match that lasted 3 hours and 5 minutes.
Coric’s challenge commenced with a bye in the first round and he went on to beat another South Korean Kim Dukyoung 6-4, 6-2 in the second round.
He continued his winning ways by beating Evan Hoyt of Great Britain 6-2, 6-0 in the last 16 and Bradley Mousely from Australia 6-2, 6-2 in the quarterfinals.
In the semi-finals, Coric was a 6-2, 6-3 winner over Japan’s Takashi Saito.
He is also the first Croatian to become the boys singles champion of the Sarawak Chief Minister’s Cup.
On Saturday, Coric had already won his first title here when he partnered Luke Bambridge of Great Britain to beat Harry Bourchier of Australia and Cameron Norrie of New Zealand in the boys doubles final.