The first round of the 25. Vegeta Croatia Open has already brought a big surprise and great happiness for the local crowd. The young Croatian tennis player, 17 year-old Borna Ćorić, achieved one of the greatest successes in his senior career with his first ATP Tour victory. Unexpectedly, at Vegeta Croatia Open Umag he bested the 13 years older Frenchman Edouardo Roger Vasellin who is ranked 200 spots higher than him.

Comparisons to him Davis Cup victory over Jerzy Janowicz from Poland, who was ranked 14th in the world at the time are inevitable. "That was an equally amazing match as the one today. Today my serve might have been better and I was definitely calmer in my head than back then. I suppose that comes with time", said the visibly excited Ćorić.

Ćorić's advancement is unstoppable and the serve has become one of his main assets. Has he ever served better? "I don't think so, I don't even know what happened to me today, because I haven't served very well in the past few tournaments, so this is a miracle", said Borna. Even though this is his first victory in the main draw of an ATP Tournament, he plans to postpone the celebration. "I will definitely celebrate, but not yet, I have to finish the tournament and get the best out of this."
Last years' experience has helped him in his victory, since the situation was similar in his match against Horacio Zeballos. "Yes, but I think that comes with age. Two years ago I would have certainly lost my mind if I lost a long and exhausting game, but today I deal with it much more calmly, so I believe I have improved greatly in that regard."

When asked about his plan for the rest of the tournament, Borna answered that he will serve strongly and concentrate on the first serve. "If I manage the first serve, I will have an easier time winning the point, making me less stressed." Does he have any rituals that calm him down and give him strength for later? "I usually tell myself that I'm playing well, I'm doing fine and I shouldn't lose my temper. Nothing unusual."

Ćorić had three tie breaks while never losing his serve in the match that lasted an hour and 39 minutes.
In the second round, he will play against the winner of the match between Ante Pavić and Horacio Zeballos, who stopped him in the first round last year. He would be happy to play against Pavić, because that would mean that another Croatian would go to the quarterfinals.