After playing in India’s Tata Open Maharashtra, World No. 6 Marin Cilic travelled all the way South to Melbourne to play in the Australian Open. Cilic looked in superb form before getting defeated to Gilles Simon in the semi-finals, the eventual Singles winner of the Tata Open Maharashtra. The Croatian has been sensational in the first Grand Slam of the year as well, as he has etched his name in the last four.
On his way to the semis, Cilic has defeated the likes of first seed - Rafael Nadal, tenth seed - Pablo Carreno Busta, Ryan Harrison and so on. In the Round of 128, he faced Vasek Pospisil as the Canadian put up a brave fight. Cilic was on the front foot and won the first two sets 6-2, 6-2. Pospisil made a comeback in the third set, winning it 6-4 before the fourth set went into a tiebreaker. Cilic did come out victorious, winning the tiebreaker 7-5 to move into the next round. His Round of 64 and Round of 32 matches were relatively easy as he won both of them in straight sets. Facing Joao Sousa first, he won 6-1, 7-5, 6-2 and defeated Ryan Harrison 7-6(7-4), 6-3, 7-6(7-4) in his next match.
Playing at the Margaret Court Arena for the first time this year and facing tenth seed, Pablo Carreno Busta in the Round of 16, Cilic went on the back foot, losing the first set in the tiebreaker. He gave a perfect reply, winning the second set 6-3. It was a neck and neck affair throughout the match with the third and fourth sets going into the tiebreakers. Cilic was superb when it mattered the most as he advanced to the quarter-final with a fighting win.
Playing against the top seed, Rafael Nadal, Cilic knew he had to play his best Tennis. Nadal, took the lead as he won the first set 6-3. But the Croatian was equal to the task as he got back into the match by winning the second set 6-3. The third set was another fierce battle between the two on-song players. Although Rafael Nadal went on to win the third set in the tiebreaker, he lost momentum in the fourth set and was seen limping because of an injury. He finally had to call his trainer to receive treatment after losing the fourth set. And when Cilic was 2-0 up in the fifth set, Nadal unfortunately had to retire.
Cilic, the 2014 US Open champion has a terrific chance of winning his second Grand Slam title. He will face Kyle Edmund in the semi-final and stands favourite to win against the British No. 2. We wish him all the best for this tournament and the year ahead!
