Marin Cilić

[Barty]

[Barty]

[DUN I LOVE]

Znakomicie wygląda Marinek na radzieckiej ziemi tej jesieni.

[Damian]

[Damian]

Cilic Claws Past Khachanov In St. Petersburg

Spoiler:

Former World No. 3 will play Bautista Agut in the last eight
Marin Cilic is Croatian, but he is making himself at home in Russia.

The former World No. 3 made the final in Moscow last week, and on Thursday he battled into the quarter-finals in St. Petersburg. Cilic rallied past home favourite Karen Khachanov 6-4, 6-7(1), 6-4 to advance to the last eight.

“It was an amazing match, great level from both sides,” Cilic said in his on-court interview. “Karen played really, really well and on a few occasions [was] just a little bit unlucky. In the third set I was break point up at 1-1, then 40/0 on my game. One or two points here and there [were the difference], but I have to say it was definitely a great match.”

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Khachanov pushed hard to continue his run at home, where he earned a 4-1 lead in the deciding set with his aggressive play. But Cilic stormed back to claim the final five games and with it the match after two hours and 30 minutes.

Cilic won the St. Petersburg title in his most recent appearance at the event in 2011. But with the likes of top seed Andrey Rublev still in the draw, the Croatian is not getting ahead of himself.

“Everybody is playing good. The tournament is great. It’s the end of the season, so everybody wants to finish on a great level,” Cilic said. “For me it was great to play this kind of a match today.”

It will not get any easier in the quarter-finals against third seed Roberto Bautista Agut. The Spanish veteran eliminated American Mackenzie McDonald 6-3, 6-2 in one hour and 19 minutes.

“I love playing here in St. Petersburg. I like this court. I like the conditions. I like the city, also,” Bautista said in his on-court interview. “I’m happy that I won the first match in two sets and be ready for tomorrow.”

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/cilic-k ... 1-thursday

[Damian]

[Bombardiero]

[Damian]

[Damian]

Cilic Battles Past Bautista Agut, Into St. Petersburg Semi-finals

Spoiler:

Former World No. 3 to play Rublev or van de Zandschulp

Another day, another tough three-set win for Marin Cilic in Russia.

One day after clawing past Karen Khachanov, the former World No. 3 battled past third seed Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to reach the St. Petersburg Open semi-finals.

“Today was a difficult match mentally, very, very different from yesterday,” Cilic said in his on-court interview. “During the match I was a lot up and down and I felt that I didn’t have great rhythm. But I felt that continuously I was making chances and I just had to stay mentally in the match.”

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Even in the last game, Bautista Agut put pressure on his opponent. But Cilic hit four consecutive big serves to get out of trouble and advance after two hours and 34 minutes.

The Croatian, who triumphed in St. Petersburg in 2011, will next play top seed Andrey Rublev or Dutch qualifier Botic van de Zandschulp.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/rublev- ... 021-friday

[Bombardiero]

[Damian]

[Art]

[Art]

[Art]

[Art]

[Art]

[Art]

[Art]

[Damian]

[Damian]

Title No. 20 For Marin! Cilic Wins In St. Petersburg

Spoiler:

Former World No. 3 claims second trophy in St. Petersburg
Marin Cilic put himself in elite company by winning the St. Petersburg Open on Sunday.

The Croatian, who defeated American Taylor Fritz 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-4 to lift the trophy, became just the sixth active player to claim 20 tour-level titles. The only other men who have achieved the feat are Roger Federer (103), Rafael Nadal (88), Novak Djokovic (85), Andy Murray 46) and Juan Martin del Potro (22).

"During the whole week I think my level was really good. I felt that I can still get my game to a better level, and it was a little bit similar today," Cilic said. "I was playing great on some occasions, missing some opportunities, serving for the first set, not making that first set more comfortably. As things went on, obviously Taylor started to play better. But in the end, [it was] a great mental battle from my side."

The last time Cilic competed in St. Petersburg before this week was in 2011, when he also emerged victorious. This was his fourth title in Russia, having also earned the crown in Moscow twice (2014-15).


"Coming 10 years after winning in 2011 and also winning now, it's so, so special for me, especially this part of my career," Cilic said during the trophy ceremony. "Having now a family, two sons, I want to absolutely dedicate this trophy to my newborn son."

Last week, the former World No. 3 fell one win short of triumphing in Moscow. And it appeared after letting slip a set-and-a-break advantage that he might lose another final in Russia.

But Cilic never stopped fighting, and he rallied from a break down in the deciding set to win after two hours and 23 minutes. The 33-year-old hit 12 aces and won 78 per cent of his first-serve points in his victory.

"My plans are to keep pushing myself, to keep training hard to give myself an opportunity to again win great tournaments and to play amazing tennis, to be winning against guys who are at the top," Cilic said. "That’s obviously my goal. Who knows where it will take me, but for me, it’s a great start, these two tournaments in Russia. It obviously helps so much for my confidence end of the season playing this well."


For much of the match, Cilic was the more aggressive player, and that allowed him to control rallies against Fritz. But on the two occasions he led by a break in the second set, the World No. 35 began misfiring with his forehand, allowing the American back into the match.

Fritz stormed ahead in the decider, using his power and depth to maintain the momentum. But he was unable to finish the job, and Cilic got back on serve. The fifth seed had an opportunity to pull ahead again at 4-3, but his veteran opponent saved a break point masterfully with a daring drop shot, which he followed up with a volley at the net.

Cilic took advantage of a Fritz double fault on break point at 4-4 to earn a chance to serve for the match, and the Croatian did not let slip his opportunity. He put away a forehand volley on championship point before leaping into the air with a big fist pump to celebrate.

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