The National’s Sport cover for the Friday, February 27 issue, featuring Andy Murray in his ATP Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships loss to Croatian 18-year-old Bornia Corcic in the quarter-finals.
Coric, one of tennis’s brightest young prospects, earned yet another famous win in his young career after defeating Rafael Nadal in Basel, Switzerland last year.
Covering Thursday's quarter-final win over world No 4 Murray, Ahmed Rizvi writes:
“On December 1 last year, Borna Coric introduced his 9,000 or so followers on Instagram to a new tattoo he got himself. Inked on the inside of the 18 year old’s right biceps were the words, “There is nothing worse in life than being ordinary”.
“Thankfully, the young Croat will not have to suffer the ignominy of being ordinary, for he is clearly on his way to becoming extraordinary. His straight-sets win over Rafael Nadal in Basel last October, before his 18th birthday, provided ample evidence. Now, there is further confirmation.”
Rizvi goes on to quote Novak Djokovic, who says he sees a bit of himself in the young Croat.
“I try to help him because I see, in a way, myself through him. I’ve never felt the way when I practice with somebody as I felt with him. It’s like playing myself, very similar game – great fighting spirit, disciplined, focused, committed, confident. Very young, but confident, which is important.”
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