Borna Ćorić
A resilient Croatian tennis talent who stunned the world by winning a Masters title as a low-ranked wildcard, proving his formidable skill on the biggest stages.
Born 1996 (age 30)·Croatian tennis player·Birthday: November 14·Millennials
Biography
Borna Ćorić announced himself as a teenager with a fierce, counter-punching style and a temperament that thrived on battle. Hailing from Zagreb, he broke into the top 40 while still a teen, famously defeating Rafael Nadal on hard courts. His career, however, became a story of battling back. Just as he reached a career-high ranking of world number 12 in 2018, a serious shoulder injury sidelined him for a year, requiring surgery and a long, grueling climb back from outside the top 250. His defining moment came in 2022 in Cincinnati. Entering as a wildcard ranked 152nd, he engineered one of the most improbable runs in modern tennis, defeating four top-20 players in a row to claim the Masters 1000 crown, a testament to his unwavering self-belief and tactical intelligence.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Borna was born in 1996, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Borna Was Born
The biggest hits of 1996
#1 Movie
Independence Day
Best Picture
The English Patient
#1 TV Show
ER
Borna's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1996Born
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2001Started school
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2009Became a teenager
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Could drive
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2014Could vote
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2017Turned 21
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Turned 30
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the 2022 Cincinnati Masters as a wildcard ranked World No. 152, beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final.
- Reached a career-high ATP singles ranking of World No. 12 in November 2018.
- Has won three ATP Tour singles titles, including victories on hard and grass courts.
- Defeated Rafael Nadal at the 2016 Cincinnati Masters when he was just 19 years old.
Did You Know?
He is known for his exceptional two-handed backhand and strong defensive skills.
His coach for his famous Cincinnati run was Mate Delić, a former Croatian tennis pro.
He was the youngest player in the top 100 of the ATP rankings when he first broke into it.
Ćorić is an avid fan of the NBA and football.
“I don't care who is on the other side of the net; I just want to win.”
