US Open Day 15 - Cilic Reigns In New York

Turn the clock back twelve months and Marin Cilic wasn’t even a part of the 2013 US Open, a nine month ban after testing positive for a banned supplement left his career in serious doubt.  

One year on and the Croatian’s story of the event suggest he was innocent, the fact that the Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced the ban from nine months to four also implied the punishment was a little harsh.



It was the first major final for both men

But not even the Croatian himself could have imaged the euphoria which would follow the devastating storm, the latest Grand Slam Champion in an era many have described as the best ever, the stuff of dreams doesn’t describe it. 

He outplayed Japan’s Kei Nishikori in a historic major final, the first one since 2005 which didn’t include Nadal, Federer or Djokovic. After his remarkable dismissal of Federer in the semi-final the great Swiss had described Cilic’s game as “Old school tennis, big first serve, big forehand, and finish at the net” A deadly combination when executed well.

Some will even say that Cilic’s ban helped him; in the time he was away he clearly added more firepower onto his already effective serve while the asset of coach, former Wimbledon Champion, Goran Ivanišević has also injected some belief back into his game.

In the end it was a step too far for Nishikori who couldn’t repeat his heroic semi-final victory over Djokovic, which also came fresh off the back of two five setters. Cilic was merciless in securing a 6-3 6-3 6-3 victory and his first major title in 1 hour and 54 minutes to become the first Croatian since Ivanišević to triumph at the highest level.     

It was a match where no-one quite knew what to expect, both in their first major final, ultimately it would come down to who could handle the occasion better.

After straight set wins over Tomas Berdych and Federer, Cilic’s confidence was sky high and it was the Croatian who made the better start, breaking Nishikori in the sixth game. The single break was enough due to Cilic’s immaculate serve, he took the opening set in 33 minutes.

In the second set the momentum didn’t chance and for the majority of the match it appeared that Nishikori was clinging on for dear life. Cilic showed a greater variety of shots from the baseline and as he seized a 5-2 second set lead, despite then losing serve for the first time he had little trouble in closing it out.

The energy was visibly being drained from Nisikori’s robust tank. Anything short Cilic pounced on it and for a man at 6 ft 6 the Croatian moved well, returned well and soaked up his opponents pressure, before dishing it out with greater effect. There were a few signs of nerves but not enough to deny Cilic his first major at the age of 25, a further suggestion that the reign of tennis’s “big four” could be nearing its end.