One of the Croatians has been running the headlines over the last couple of weeks after his recent split with Novak Djokovic. Can Borna Coric be the player to take away all the limelight in Monte Carlo this year? The 27-year-old tennis star is all set to take on Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff in the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday. Coric has already reached the finals twice this year, while Struff is entering this match after a hard-fought victory against Argentina’s Sebastian Baez in his previous match. Who’ll have the last laugh in Monte Carlo?

Jan-Lennard Struff has always preferred clay courts over any other surface. So far, both of them have won a single match on the clay courts this year. Although Borna Coric favors the outdoor hard courts, he’ll be more than ready to prove himself as an all-court player.

Borna Coric vs Jan-Lennard Struff: Preview

The 27-year-old tennis star from Zagreb is currently the no.1 Croatian player. He has looked up to Goran Ivanisevic as one of his idols while growing up. In fact, Ivanisevic is his dream opponent. In 2014, Coric was named as the ATP New Comer of the Year and 8 years later he was awarded ATP Comeback Player of the Year. But these are now past, he has to overcome the German hurdle to move further into the tournament in Monte Carlo.

Talking about his game style, Borna Coric displayed an aggressive style of player in his previous match against Alexander Bublik. He has hit 2 aces and committed only 5 double faults in the match. His win percentage on the first serve is 71% (49/69) and 50% (27/54) on the second serve. He has been in good form this year reaching the finals in Neuve Challenger and Montpellier in just a matter of few days.

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While his 33-year-old opponent from Germany is still searching for his first title in his career. He idolizes Pete Sampras, but even the great Sampras didn’t have a flattering record at the Monte Carlo Masters. His victory against Andre Agassi in 1998 at the tournament remains the only match he has won in his career in Monte Carlo. But does it stop Jan-Lennard Struff from dreaming?

Well, his performance against Argentina’s Sebastian Baez is a perfect answer to this question. He came back from a set down to snatch the victory from the jaws of defeat. Struff hit 9 aces and committed only 5 double faults in that match. He has a staggering 79% (42/53) win percentage on his first serve. While on the second serve, he has a win percentage of 53% (32/60). Who has the upper hand in the H2H?

Coric vs Struff: Head-to-Head

Jan-Lennard Struff currently leads the H2H with Borna Coric by 4-2. However, they’re both levelled at 1-1 on the clay surfaces. They had first met each other at the Winston-Salem Open in August 2017, where Struff defeated Coric by 6-4,7-6(2). Their next meeting was almost a month later in St. Petersburg where yet against Struff toppled the Croatian by 3-6,6-2,6-4. But in their next meeting in October 2017 at the Paris Masters Borna Coric came back and snatched a victory against the German by defeating him comprehensively by a 6-3,6-4 margin.

In 2018, Coric yet against triumphed over Struff defeating him in the second round of the Madrid Open by 6-0,6-2. But Jan-Lennard Struff made a strong comeback in their next two meetings. He defeated Coric in a five-set-thriller at the 2019 French Open. But after that, there was a long gap before they crossed paths yet again at the Indian Wells this year. This time, Struff outclassed the No. 33 by 6(3)-7,6-2,7-6(9). Can he repeat the same in Monte Carlo?

Well, this will be their seventh meeting on the Tour and it’s fair to say both of them are already quite aware of each other’s strengths and weaknesses. So, taking a call by looking at their previous results wouldn’t be too wise. Instead, let’s see who is currently in better form.

Prediction: Coric to win three sets

Borna Coric had faced defeat in his very first in Monte Carlo last year. But he reached the QF of this tournament in 2019. He has a win-loss record of 10-7 so far this season. On the other hand, Jan-Lennard Struff reached the QF last year and will look forward to at least repeating the same this year. He has a win-loss record of 6-8 this season. Can he improve his record by yet again making a longer run at the Monte Carlo Masters this year?

Struff has a positive match record in the last 10 years winning 55% of his matches (302-252). His record on clay over the past few years is 113-74. He has dropped only one set in this tournament so far. Looks impressing? Well, here’s something more interesting for you, Borna Coric hasn’t yet dropped a set in this tournament. So, the Croatian over the German this time around.

Did you know? Borna Coric would’ve been a boxer if he wasn’t a tennis player. In fact, he had even got the chance to meet Mike Tyson in 2016 at the Indian Wells. Will he manage to serve a knockout punch to his German opponent in his second match in Monte Carlo? Or will Jan-Lennar Struff serve himself a pizza treat after his victory against the Croatian? Pizza is Struff’s favorite food. What’s yours?

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