Marin Cilic has enjoyed a legendary career and is still going strong at 36 years old.
The Croat star has won 21 ATP titles and reached a career-high ranking of number three in the world.
Reaching the semi-finals of all four Majors, Cilic proved his talents on all surfaces, competing against the very best in men’s tennis.
Injuries have slowed his progress in recent years, although that has not stopped him picking up titles, as Cilic won the Hangzhou Open in China last September.
As the 36-year-old ramps up his preparations for Wimbledon later this month, an event he’ll qualify for via his ranking, Cilic reflected on the biggest win of his tennis career, 11 years ago.
Marin Cilic knew he could win the US Open after round four and told Goran Ivanisevic, ‘I can’t miss a ball’
Cilic won the US Open title in 2014, becoming just the second Croat, after his coach Goran Ivanisevic, to win a Grand Slam.
He started well at Flushing Meadows but narrowly avoided defeat in his fourth-round match against Gilles Simon.
- 2014 US Open 1R – Marin Cilic beat Marcos Baghdatis, 6-3, 3-1 (RET)
- 2014 US Open 2R – Marin Cilic beat Ilya Marchenko, 7-6, 6-2, 6-4
- 2014 US Open 3R – Marin Cilic beat Kevin Anderson, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
- 2014 US Open 4R – Marin Cilic beat Gilles Simon, 5-7, 7-6, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
Speaking to the Tennis Channel after his latest win at this week’s Nottingham Open, Cilic was asked to pinpoint the exact moment he knew he could win the 2014 US Open.
“I know exactly the moment. So, I’ve beaten Gilles Simon in the fourth round, we had lots of five, three-setters during our careers,” said Cilic.
“After that match, I took a day off, came back to play Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals. I told Goran [Ivanisevic], I was hitting with Goran, I told him, ‘I can’t miss a ball, this is a joke’, at that moment I knew.”
After telling Ivanisevic he couldn’t miss a ball, Cilic stepped into another gear and didn’t drop another set for the remainder of the tournament.
- 2014 US Open QF – Marin Cilic beat Tomas Berdych, 6-2, 6-4, 7-6
- 2014 US Open SF – Marin Cilic beat Roger Federer, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4
- 2014 US Open F – Marin Cilic beat Kei Nishikori, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3
Stunning five-time champion Roger Federer in the semi-finals, Cilic advanced to the final, where he took down Japanese star Kei Nishikori.
Cilic joined an elite group of Grand Slam champions in an era dominated by Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.
| Rank | Name | Grand Slams won | Tournaments |
| 1 | Rafael Nadal | 14 | Australian Open – 1, French Open – 9, Wimbledon – 2, US Open – 2 |
| 2 | Roger Federer | 13 | Australian Open – 3, French Open – 1, Wimbledon – 5, US Open – 4 |
| 3 | Novak Djokovic | 7 | Australian Open – 4, Wimbledon – 2, US Open – 1 |
| 4 | Andy Murray | 2 | Wimbledon – 1, US Open – 1 |
| T-5 | Juan Martin del Potro | 1 | US Open – 1 |
| T-5 | Stan Wawrinka | 1 | Australian Open – 1 |
| T-5 | Marin Cilic | 1 | US Open – 1 |
He has yet to add to his Grand Slam tally, although that’s not to say he hasn’t come close to doing so.
Marin Cilic recalls ‘bitter’ feeling after 2017 Wimbledon final
Cilic returned to a Grand Slam final for the first time since his US Open victory at Wimbledon in 2017.
Facing off against Federer in the final, Cilic lost in straight sets, as he now explains why he has mixed emotions when reflecting on the tournament.
“That was a mixed one,” he said.
“2017 was a beautiful memory but a little bit bitter at the end, because I got terrible blisters just after my semi-final match with Sam Querrey.
“Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to play at my full level [in the final].”
He did not have to wait long for a rematch, returning to take on Federer in the final of the 2018 Australian Open.
Losing in five sets on that occasion, Cilic missed out on the chance to win his second Grand Slam, but rose to a career-high ranking of number three.
Reaching two Grand Slam finals in less than 12 months was a highlight for Cilic, as he recalls the changes he made ahead of the ‘best period’ of his career.
“There was a period, let’s say between April 2017 and February 2018, that was the best period of my career, played incredible tennis, two Grand Slam finals, a bunch of quarterfinals, semi-finals,” he said.
“That was the most consistent tennis I’ve played. Quite a few times in my career, I was close, in top ten, out of the top ten, I made a shift at the start of 2017, in my mindset, how to train, what to train, and understood more about myself, my game, so I can actually get one step higher.”
It remains to be seen if Cilic can make another deep run at a Grand Slam tournament, but he will certainly be one to look out for when Wimbledon begins on Monday, June 30.
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