French Open 2018: Croatians Cilic & Coric Through to Round of 32

Marin Cilic (Photo: Roland Garros official/Twitter)

Croatian hopes at the 2018 French Open now rest on Marin Cilic and Borna Coric after the pair successfully advanced through to the round of 32 in Paris on Thursday.

Cilic, who is the tournament’s third seed, started strong in his second round match against World No.188 Hubert Hurkacz from Poland, winning the opening two sets convincingly 6-2, 6-2.

Hurkacz came back to take the third set 7-5, but Cilic showed his class taking the fourth set and the match.

.@cilic_marin qualifié pour le 3e tour ! Victoire 6-2 6-2 6-7 7-5 face à Hubert Hurkacz issu des qualifications. #RG18 pic.twitter.com/7BrCzGOyv6

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 31, 2018

Meanwhile, Borna Coric’s match against Thomas Fabbiano from Italy on Thursday did not start as well as Cilic’s. Coric lost the first set 6-4, but all was all one-way traffic after that.

The 21-year-old Croatian took the second set 6-2, gave his opponent only one game in the third set and then took the fourth set also 6-1 to take out the match.

Cilic faces American Steve Johnson in the round of 32, whilst Coric will meet the winner of the Schwartzman/Pavlasek match.

Croatia’s final hope in the women’s draw, Donna Vekic, lost her match on Thursday to former World No.1 Maria Sharapova 7-5, 6-4 after putting up a brave fight.