Roger Federer reveals reason for Borna Coric defeat at Shanghai Masters
ROGER FEDERER says Borna Coric’s serve was the key to the match after he was beaten 6-4 6-4 in the Shanghai Masters semi-final.
Shanghai Masters: Coric beats Federer with stunning final point
Before the match, Federer learnt he would drop to world No 2 after Novak Djokovic reached the final with a win over Alexander Zverev.
Federer was broken in his opening service game by Coric and the Croatian held on to win the first set 6-4.
Coric then repeated the trick on Federer’s in the second set to take a commanding lead.
And the 21-year-old remained composed, losing just nine points on his serve in the match, to earn his second consecutive win over Federer.
After the match, Federer admitted he had no answer to Coric’s quality on serve.
"I thought he was better. I think he had more punch on the ball. He served better. I think that's it," said Federer.
"The rest, he had more chances than I had. I got off to a bad start in both sets.
“That combination is plenty here in Shanghai with [the] fast conditions."
Coric's win puts him in his first Masters 1000 final and the youngster says his performance was one of the best of his career.
"It's one of the best matches I have ever played. I was just feeling through the ball," Coric said.
"I think I served the best in my life, for sure. I was going for the angles.
“I was going for the body. Everything was going in. No, that's much above my standard level.
“I mean, my standard level nowadays is better than in the last year, that's for sure.
“But again, to say this is my normal level, no, it's not, for sure."