Roger Federer brings Borna Coric back down to earth in Dubai masterclass
Swiss 17-time grand slam champion sets up potential final showdown with Novak Djokovic after he demolishes Croatian
Roger Federer trounced Croatian teenager Borna Coric 6-2, 6-1 at the Dubai Championships on Friday to set up a potential final showdown with world number one Novak Djokovic.
Federer may have failed to win a grand slam title since triumphing at Wimbledon in 2012, but he remains a formidable competitor as Coric discovered in their semi-final. The 18-year-old, who thumped Andy Murray in the last eight, found himself on the receiving end of a Federer masterclass.
“I remember like yesterday ... how it was coming into the tour, being able to play the players I had seen on TV,” Federer, 33, said in a courtside interview.
I never thought I would play that many finals. I keep travelling the world doing what I do, it’s usually to a full house and that keeps me motivated
Federer will play Djokovic or world number eight Tomas Berdych in his 126th tour final as he seeks a seventh Dubai title.
“I never thought I would play that many finals. I keep travelling the world doing what I do, it’s usually to a full house and that keeps me motivated,” Federer added.
Grunting with almost every stroke, Coric fell 2-0 behind in the first set before a careless surrendered his own serve with a double fault and a netted forehand.
But from 3-2 up there was no stopping the Swiss, who took advantage of a Coric double fault and a skewed forehand to wrap up the set.
