Marin Čilić regains form to reach Madrid Open quarterfinal

Marin Čilić (Photo credit: Mario Ćužić/HTS)

MADRID, 9 May, 2019 – After a an extended period being out of form, Croatia’s number one ranked tennis player, Marin Čilić, has put together three wins in a row to reach the quarterfinal of the Madrid Open. 

Čilić was one set down and a break down in the second set against Serbia’s Laslo Đere before turning it around to eventually win their Round of 16 match 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 at the Mutua Madrid Open on Thursday. 

Čilić, who went almost two months without a victory, hit 12 aces against Đere. The Serbian had upset 7th seed Juan Martín del Potro in the Round of 32. 

The 30-year-old got past Slovakia’s Martin Kližen in the first round, winning a tie-breaker in the third set, before coming from a set down to beat Jan-Lennard Struff in the Round of 32. 

Čilić will meet either Novak Djoković or Jeremy Chardy in the quarterfinals.

It has been a tough year for Čilić who has seen his ranking drop from a career-high No.3 in 2018 to a current ranking of No.10 after a series of early tournament exits. 

Meanwhile, in the women’s draw, Croatia’s Petra Martić takes on 8th seed Sloane Stephens in the Round of 16 later today.