Australian Open 2019: Borna Ćorić’s run ends in Melbourne

Borna Ćorić (AusOpen/Twitter)

MELBOURNE, 21 January 2019 – Borna Ćorić’s run at the Australian Open has come to an end at the hands of Frenchman Lucas Pouille on Monday in Melbourne.

The 22-year-old Croatian equalled his best Grand Slam finish when he made it into the last 16 at this year’s Australian Open but he could not go one better and was stopped today by Pouille.

The 28th-seed Frenchman was too good on the day for Ćorić, winning the match 6-7, 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 in just over 3 hours.

Ćorić, the tournament’s 11th seed, gave the Croatian fans in the crowd something to cheer about early on when he claimed a tight first set in a tiebreaker with an ace.

Set 1, @borna_coric 🇭🇷

The No.11 seed takes the opener against Lucas Pouille 7-6(4) in 47 minutes.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/ca3XVvCTsp

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2019

Pouille got the solitary break in the second set when Ćorić made an unforced forehand error in the seventh game and he would go on to take the set.

The Frenchman levels 🇫🇷@la_pouille ties things up on @melbournearena against Borna Coric, clinching the second set 6-4.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/U0vc6v3EzA

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2019

The third set was equally as tight with both players holding serve until the Frenchman broke at 5-5.

Ćorić was broken in his opening service game of the fourth set after making a number of unforced errors. He was able to break back in the eighth game of the set to level at 4-4.

Four times a charm for @borna_coric.

On his fourth break point, the No. 11 seed finally converts for 4-4 to get back on serve with Lucas Pouille.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/OZw7oolF12

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2019

Both players then held serve to set up a tiebreaker which Pouille would take to end the Croatian’s run in Melbourne.