Disappeared from the radar in recent months, the Croatian finds his best level Porte d’Auteuil.
A Roland-Garros,
At 33, the former world number 3 qualified for the first time in his career for the semi-finals of Roland-Garros after a sacred showdown against Andrey Rublev in five sets 5- 7, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (10-2). After outclassing world number 2 Daniil Medvedev in the previous round, the tall Croatian (1.98m) hit 88 winners, including 33 aces (for 71 unforced errors), to win after the very first super tie- break (in ten points) disputed on the Central of Roland-Garros, after a fight of 4h10. “I feel great, but also very tired mentally and physically. It’s a very difficult match, very high tennis for both of us. Rublev is one of the most consistent players. He played at a very good level. He serves very hard, he hits very hard. I had to play at my best level. Fortunately, I served incredibly well today. It was a formidable battle. It was really, really close in the fifth set. It was emotionally draining».
Cilic, winner of the 2014 US Open, thus becomes the fifth active player to have reached the last four in the four Grand Slam tournaments, in good company with Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. Marin Cilic, fallen to 23rd place, back in full light after two seasons where he accumulated physical glitches and doubts on the courts. “I had three, four seasons which were great during which I was very consistent but after that I disappeared a bit. I don’t care a bit about being in the spotlight or being under the radar. I try to use the opportunities I have as best I can; throughout my career, in every game, to give my best and come out of the game happy.” Cilic, 33, will face the Norwegian Casper Ruud (8th) or the young Dane Holger Rune, 40th in the world at 19 years old. ” I have already played against Casper twice, once in Rome two years ago. I would say he is one of the best players on the tour, especially on clay. Over 12 months he has won so many titles. on clay and he loves to play on this surface. He feels very good. So it will be a very difficult game if he wins. I try to focus on myself. I’m going to try to have a big serve, a big game and do what I know how to play against these great players in the best possible way”. With the ambition of playing a fourth Grand Slam final on Sunday after the US Open 2014, Wimbledon 2017 and the Australian Open 2018.