Del Potro Ends Cilic’s French Open Run

Marin Cilic (Photo: French Open)

Juan Martin del Potro has ended Marin Cilic’s run at the French Open with a four-set win in the quarterfinal in Paris today.

The match, which started just after 4:30 pm on Wednesday, ended just before 3 pm on Thursday in del Potro’s favour 7-6, 5-7, 6-3, 7-5.

Nothing could separate the pair in the opening set with both players holding with authority. With the score locked at 6-6 and 5-5 in the tie-breaker, the Paris skies opened up forcing play to be abandoned for the day.

The players returned this afternoon and it was del Potro who would claim the first set. Cilic did not let the disappointment of losing the first set get to him and towards the end of the second set started to play his best tennis of the match. Cilic would break del Potro’s serve to claim the second set 7-5.

Cilic charging forward…

The No.3 seed levels his QF match with Del Potro at a set a piece. @cilic_marin recolle à un set partout face à Del Potro 7-5…Le combat s’annonce acharné pour atteindre le dernier carré de Roland-Garros !#RG18 pic.twitter.com/WMQJ9BHEIT

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 7, 2018

The 29-year-old Australian Open runner-up kept the pressure on at the start of the third set and broke del Potro immediately to go 2-0 up. Cilic led 3-1 but that would be all the games he would win in the set as the Argentine won five games straight to take the set 6-3.

An ace to seal the third set, 6-3.

Del Potro takes a two sets to one lead over Cilic. The Argentine is just a set away from a SF clash with Nadal.

Breaké dans cette 3ème manche, Juan Martin Del Potro ne cède pas et parvient finalement à passer devant : 6-3#RG18 pic.twitter.com/YBQn2ghZW6

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 7, 2018

The fourth set went on serve until the 11th game when de Potro broke to go 6-5 up. The Argentine, who has not lost to Cilic in the last seven years, held his serve to claim the set and match and advance to the semi-final where he will meet Rafa Nadal.