Čilić Wins US Open: ‘I owe Goran a lot’
- by croatiaweek
- in Sport
Marin Čilić has become the first Croat to win the US Open when he dispatched Japan’s Kei Nishikori in straight sets 6:3, 6:3, 6:3 in New York on Monday…
14th-seed Čilić hit 17 aces and just 27 unforced errors as he followed up from his clinical semi-final win over Roger Federer on Saturday with an equally impressive display. Nishikori had no answer to Čilić’s power and precision and was put to bed in just under two hours.
“This came from all the hard work over the years, especially the last year, my team has bought me a lot, especially Goran, who has done a lot for my game, especially he taught me to enjoy my tennis and I have had a lot of fun here. Everything I worked towards came together and it gives hope to others that if you work hard things will pay off,” a beaming Čilić, who now jumps to number 9 in the world, said after lifting his first ever Grand Slam title.
Goran and Marin with their Grand Slam trophys
Only the Australian Open out of the Grand Slams now eludes a Croatian after Iva Majoli won the French Open in 1997 and Čilić’s coach Goran Ivanišević won Wimbledon. (pic: US Open)
