Marin Cilic secures his AO final spot and is ready for his second slam title
Marin Cilic won his semifinal match against Britain’s Kyle Edmund, 6-2, 7-6 (4), 6-2, showing off a dangerous aggression that he’s looking to employ in the final to reach that second slam title.
Marin Cilic can be a dangerous player when he’s on, with his imposing frame and aggressive accuracy, when he wants to be. This was the case when he defeated Roger Federer in the 2014 U.S. Open semifinals, on his way to win his only grand slam title. He did the same to Kyle Edmund—Great Britain’s next hope after Andy Murray withdrew from the sport to heal after hip surgery. Cilic was efficient from the start, facing only two break points in the entire match. Edmund—who enthusiastically took up the mantle from Murray, playing brilliantly to make the semi—put up a fight in the second set but just couldn’t sustain it once his injury became apparent. He took a medical time out later in the game, but by then the momentum was solely with the Croat.
Edmund’s effort here at the Australian Open have been applauded by his home country, who up until now, were pretty despondent about the loss of Andy Murray to British tennis. But once Edmund ousted the U.S. Open finalist Kevin Anderson and current world No. 3 and ATP Final champion Grigor Dimitrov, it was clear that the 23 year-old is willing to rise to the challenge. He’s part of a new generation of tennis stars who are banging on the door of the Big Four for important titles.
Marin Cilic, on the other hand, has been banging on that door for a while. One of only a select few to win a grand slam title outside the Big Four in the last two decades, the 29 year-old has progressed close before, getting so close to another slam he could smell it. Last year he faced Federer in the Wimbledon final, but mentally collapsed in the final, due in part to a slight foot injury, but also to do a great deal with nerves.
This year he’s made it to this final with a completely new battle plan and has been playing throughout the tournament like a renewed man. He also has a new coach, Ivan Cinkus. Between Federer and the other semifinalist, Chung, the Croat has a winning record over the 21 year-old, 3-0 over Chung, but 1-8 in a head-to-head over Fed. Between the two, I’m sure he’s hoping that the young upstart will emerge from the semifinal. But if he does end up looking at the Swiss 19-time grand slam champ on the other side of the net on Sunday, Federer will be facing a different Marin Cilic than he did at the All England Club last year.
“Roger is always looking to play really aggressive,” Cilic said. “He’s serving really good and taking the ball quite early. I think with my own game if I’m serving well and playing aggressive, hitting good shots from the baseline, I think I can match him with that game. It’s always difficult if you are running around and he is controlling the points.”
Whoever the other finalist is, they will be facing a Marin Cilic who is fully fit, and has used his lethal, big game throughout the tourney. In the two weeks he hit the second highest amount of aces, with 107.
“It’s great to again be in the final, giving myself another opportunity to win a Grand Slam,” Cilic said. “I’m playing very good tennis and definitely very excited for the rest of 2018.”
No matter if he wins or not on Sunday, he’ll move up to a career high of No. 3.
Roger Federer plays Hyeon Chung in the last semifinal on Friday at 3:30 a.m., EST, live on the Tennis Channel.
The men’s final will be on Sunday.