NEW YORK (AP) – Rafael Nadal’s memories of his lone match against Borna Coric are a bit fuzzy, which is understandable.
When the two met in the Swiss Indoors last October, Nadal had just decided to undergo season-ending appendix surgery once his run in the tournament ended. That would come against Coric, a gifted teen from Croatia who won that day in straight sets against a sluggish Nadal.
“It was a tough moment of the year for me,” the 14-time Grand Slam champion recalled Saturday.
“I don’t remember it very well, but I think I played very bad,” Nadal added, laughing.
The two men face off for the second time Monday, and for good reason, U.S. Open organizers believe it could be a compelling match. It closes out the night session at Arthur Ashe Stadium as the year’s final Grand Slam tournament begins.