Borna-gain: After shouldering injury for a year, Coric embraces return to "stressful" tour life

REVISIT CORIC'S LAST WIN: 2021 Rotterdam quarterfinals vs. Nishikori

When adding up the month of July, an electric party scene and the spectacular Croatian coastline, the sum of these parts might equal an aspirational vacation scenario for a 20-something looking to unwind. At 25, Borna Coric fits the bill, but the former ATP world No. 12 isn't exactly working in a profession that encourages planning time off.

At his prodigious best, Coric twice defeated Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer and helped his nation win a Davis Cup crown. He also hasn’t been seen on a match court in 12 months, and is sure to be welcomed back with open arms for his long-awaited BNP Paribas Open return.

Coric stood in uncharted waters last summer when he made the decision to have surgery on his right shoulder. In a typical year, the Zagreb native would grant himself up to five days to relax following the grass-court season. With no chance of recovering in time for the US Open, 2021 took Coric down a different path, one where he let go for three weeks to join in the alluring home atmosphere.

“It was my pretty much the first time in my life that I was free for so much time,” he tells TENNIS.com. “We have a beautiful sea, lots of good parties. I just decided to spend some time on the coast doing some other things rather than just focus on the tennis. I pretty much knew I [didn't] need to be ready for anything soon.”

While Coric enjoyed the rare change of pace, it couldn’t replace the void in his life. He had endured time away from the tour in the past, like in 2016 when a right knee injury sidelined him for three months, but nothing as extensive as this shoulder issue.

Coric recalls the problem arising as early as 2018; the discomfort took a turn for the worse by the end of 2020. Once he could no longer play through the pain, going under the knife in May 2021 was the only viable option.

After eight or nine weeks, Coric began lightly hitting again. In the interim, he maximized time in the gym to boost strength and conditioning. When on court, Coric’s legs received the brunt of his workload through rigorous footwork instruction. Rather than rush the process, the 2020 US Open quarterfinalist focused solely on getting his body right again.

“I looked at a big picture rather than a small picture and decided to do really good rehab, take my time,” says Coric. “I didn't have time off from tennis for a long time. So, in a way I needed this break. We were not really sure what's causing me the pain. So, I lost a little bit of time there.

“I could have probably played the Australian Open if I wanted to really push hard. I decided not to just for the sake of my shoulder and to be sure that everything is going to be good.”

Though Coric made the trek to Melbourne in December when the borders opened up, playing the Australian summer swing was just a possibility, not a must-have outcome for a young man with two ATP titles. The primary purpose of his trip wasn’t to play the first major of the 2022 season, but to continue putting in quality work on his recovery. Together with his physio, Coric collaborated with specialist Lyn Watson, reconnected with several of his peers while in town and left the country without needing match play to deem the journey a success.

“Lyn did help me a lot. I think I would still struggle with my injury if she was not with us,” Coric says. ”My physio also did a great, great job, but she really helped us a lot at that stage. And then I said, ‘If I'm going, be ready for the Australian Open, that's great. If I'm not going to be, that's also great.’ I still did something there.

“It was a win-win situation. I love Australia, so I was really happy there.”

On his road back, Coric had conversations about changing the technique on his service motion. Believing the serve was one of his strongest attributes—if not his biggest weapon—he pushed back on making significant adjustments. While his team set to work on identifying modifications to his warm-up, Coric's greatest hurdle has been regaining trust in his shoulder.

“Coming back, you're going to have some ups and downs in the rehab as well, because that's normal. If you don't serve for seven or eight months, once you start serving again, it's likely going to be painful,” he shares. “So, I think that was the hardest thing. I still have that sometimes now, so it's very challenging to stay calm and believe in yourself and in the rehab. I hope I'm pretty much at the end of that.”

I looked at a big picture rather than a small picture and decided to do really good rehab, take my time. Borna Coric

Coric’s last match came on March 6, 2021 when he fell to Marton Fucsovics in the semifinals of Rotterdam. He never imagined a full year passing between tournaments, but through the pain and patience, the Croat’s absence has renewed passion for the sport he picked up at 5. For a guy who owns up to not liking traveling, Coric can now say with confidence he’d trade in the summer social scene back home for a long-haul flight if the destination comes with hearing the words “ready, play” again.

“I enjoy that feeling, when I'm a little bit nervous before the match or when I'm tired in the match, I really, really like it. And, I miss that now,” he reflects. “It's very calm for the last year. When I have stress now, it's about my shoulder. If I could choose, I would always choose the stress from competing and playing bad, playing good, winning tournaments, losing tournaments, I really like that feeling.

“That's my main motivation. I love tennis. I love my job. I like my life there.”

When Coric steps out for his first match in Indian Wells, look for him to be the life of the party on the grounds. For he won't take a single moment in the desert for granted.