Magnifique - 19-09-2008 21:25:14

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1126/1373482342_094cfb2f22.jpg

28 września skończy 20 lat i uznawany jest za największy talent chorwackiego tenisa.
Niedawno odniósł swój 1 turniejowy sukces w karierze wygrywając ATP New Haven.
Zajmuje najwyższą w karierze, 22 pozycję w rankingu ATP.

Profil Marina na stronie ATP:
http://www.atptennis.com/3/en/players/p … arch=cilic

Data urodzenia: 28-09-88
Miejsce urodzenia: Medjugorje, BIH
Miejsce zamieszkania: Zagrzeb
Wzrost: 198 cm
Waga: 81 kg
Trener: Bob Brett

DUN I LOVE - 19-09-2008 21:33:32

Zacząłbym od chwalebnych opinii na temat Marina, ale wczoraj z jego obozu dobiegły bardzo niepokojące wieści na temat Jego stanu zdrowia. Lekarze stwierdzili jakiś tajemniczy wirus, który usztywnił (sparaliżował to za duże słowo) mu lewą część twarzy. Nie wiadomo dokładnie co mu dolega (przypomina mi się dolegliwość Jamesa Blake'a z 2004 roku), niemniej Cilic w trybie nagłym wycofał się z gry w Pucharze Davisa i z zawodów w Tokio, które odbędą się na przełomie września i pazdziernika.

Za chwilę poszuka  artykułu i postaram się go tu wrzucić.

Zdrowiej Marin!

Bizon - 19-09-2008 22:16:01

:/ Wyglada to na cos naprawde powaznego. Zycze mu jak najszybszego powrotu do zdrowia.

Kubecki - 21-01-2009 17:49:20

#2 Chennai 2009

http://nimg.sulekha.com/Others/thumbnailfull/marin-cilic-2009-1-11-11-33-1.jpg

R32 Martin, Alberto (ESP)  6-4 6-4
R16 Istomin, Denis (UZB)  6-0 6-4
Q   Tipsarevic, Janko (SRB)  6-4 0-6 6-4
SF  Granollers, Marcel (ESP) 6-4 6-3
F   Devvarman, Somdev (IND) 6-4 7-6(3)

b@der - 21-01-2009 19:45:04

Dziś zasłużona wygrana z Tipsareviciem, chociaz stracił jednego seta...

Wedlug ciebie to jest az tak istotne ze stracil wczoraj seta, by pisac o tym w jego watku ? :P Do tematu z AO z czyms takim na przyszlosc, nastepne takie posty bede kasowal ;) [Bizon]

COA - 09-02-2009 18:52:07

3. Zagrzeb 2009

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0M_KdlZIAtk/SY8yeTV7vxI/AAAAAAAAPrI/XG7ohvj2Lig/s400/610x.jpg

R32 Clement, Arnaud (FRA 6-4 6-3
R16 Serra, Florent (FRA) 6-2 7-5
Q    Veic, Antonio (CRO) 6-2 7-6(6)
S    Troicki, Viktor (SRB) 6-2 7-5
W   Ancic, Mario (CRO) 6-3 6-4

DUN I LOVE - 08-09-2009 23:34:42

8.9.2009 - Marin Cilić po raz 1 w 1/4 turnieju WS

Chorwat uczynił krok naprzód, wreszcie przełamując barierę 4 rundy WS. Marin ograł dziś Murraya i odniósł 1 zwycięstwo w karierze nad graczem z Top-4. Cilić był najwyżej sklasyfikowanym graczem w rankingu Entry, którego skuteczność pojedynków z Federerem, Nadalem, Murrayem i Djokoviciem wynosiła 0%. Do dziś.

Bardzo spokojny, wzbudzający sympatię człowiek. Niby bezbarwny, nudny, ale mimo wszystko mało będzie w przyszłości meczów, gdzie nie będę mu życzył sukcesu.

szeva - 06-10-2009 20:55:15

Jeden z graczy którego darzę sympatią ma duże umiejętności i oby zaliczył w karierze więcej takich spektakularnych zwycięstw jak to z USO z Murrayem

Serenity - 31-10-2009 22:26:42

31.10.2009-"100"zwycięstw Cilicia w turniejach ATP

http://cornedbeefhash.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/marin-cilic-iw08.jpg

Marin pokonując w półfinale turnieju w Wiedniu P.Kohlschreibera 6:4,7:6,odniósł swoje setne zwycięstwo w turnieju ATP:) gratulacje :)

Art - 18-12-2009 16:06:41

Cilic aims for top ten breakthrough

Marin Cilic has vowed to give chase to breakaway Argentine Juan Del Potro when the new ATP season starts in little more than a fortnight.

The Croatian who finished 2009 on 14th, faded in the closing stages as he struggled for a long-odds place in the London year-end final. But while Cilic was having his troubles, fellow 21-year-old Del Potro was lifting his game, reaching the final of the World Tour Finals, and setting himself up for a fast start to 2010.

"He beat me in New York and in Melbourne, I had a big lead in that match in Flushing, but when he caught up to me, I was left without an answer," complained Cilic of his rival. "We've always been same
path, but he matured physically faster than me."

Cilic began 2009 with a Chennai title but confesses that his mid-season was more of a swoon than anything else. "If I divide season in four pieces, first and last one were great, but middle ones could have been better," said the player who won two titles in January and February but lost autumn title shots in Vienna and Beijing.

The promising youngster says that he will try to focus on his ranking. "I was circling around 15th most of the year but when I started to think about breaking the top, I had problems with motivation and tiredness."

Cilic is working on lifting his fitness in the off season. "When I reach good level, everything will be better. I want to be able to play three or four weeks in a row."

http://www.tennistalk.com/en/news/20091 … eakthrough

jaccol55 - 10-01-2010 18:40:48

#4 Chennai 2010

R1: Kunitsyn RUS 62 64
R2: Granollers ESP 67(3) 63 64
Q: Giraldo COL 76(3) 61
S: Tipsarevic 61 63
F: Wawrinka 76(2) 76(3)

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0cNocvj5gGbbh/232x326.jpg?center=0.5,0

DUN I LOVE - 11-01-2010 12:13:42

Mądrze wybiera te turnieje Marin. Tenisowo wciąż się rozwija, ale nie zapomina też o dorobku turniejowym. Gra tam, gdzie wygrywanie jest nieco prostsze (teoretycznie przynajmniej) i jak tak dalej to się potoczy to dorobi się pokaźnej ilości wygranych imprez, głównie w oparciu "250" czy "500".
      

Chennai: Cilić obronił tytuł

Marin Cilić jako drugi w historii zdołał obronić tytuł turnieju Aircel Chennai Open. W finałowym pojedynku pokonał Stanislasa Wawrinkę 7:6(2), 7:6(3).

Odkąd rozgrywany jest turniej w Chennai, to jest od roku 1996, tylko Carlos Moya zdołał wygrać tu dwa razy z rzędu (w latach 2004-2005). Dziś w ślady Hiszpana poszedł 21-letni Marin Cilić. Zwycięstwo w decydującym o tytule spotkaniu nie przyszło mu jednak łatwo.

Mecz lepiej rozpoczął się dla Wawrinki, który w pierwszym secie prowadził 5:3. Rozstawiony z numerem dwa Cilić stratę natychmiast jednak odrobił i triumfował ostatecznie w tie breaku 7:2. Druga partia rozpoczęła się po myśli obrońcy tytuł, który wygrał dwa pierwsze gemy. To jednak nie był decydujący moment finałowej konfrontacji, gdyż i tym razem rozstrzygający był tie break. Ten od początku przebiegał pod dyktando Cilicia. Wysforował się on na prowadzenie 5:1, by ostatecznie triumfować 7:3. Spotkanie chociaż skończyło się w dwóch setach trwało aż dwie godziny oraz czterdzieści minut.

„Rozpoczęcie roku w takim stylu daje mi wiele pewności siebie oraz satysfakcji za to jak przepracowałem okres przygotowawczy do sezonu,” powiedział Cilić, który za triumf w Chennai otrzymał 250 punktów rankingowych oraz wzbogacił się o 68 450 dolarów. „Jestem bardzo dumny ze zdobycia tutaj tytułu po raz drugi. To zwycięstwo to najlepsza droga i perspektywa na dalszą część sezonu. Oczywiście wygranie tutaj turnieju daje mi więcej pewności siebie przed Australian Open. Będę miał teraz tydzień wolnego, udam się do Melbourne, trochę odpocznę i przed rozpoczęciem turnieju kilka dni potrenuję.”

Dla Stanislasa Wawrinki była to pierwsza porażka z Marinem Ciliciem, w ich piątym pojedynku. 24-letni Szwajcar nie może się pochwalić najlepszym bilansem pojedynków finałowych. Był to jego ósmy mecz o tytuł singlowy i siódma porażka.

„To przykre przegrać po dwóch tie breakach, ale myślę że pokazaliśmy sporo świetnego tenisa,” przyznał Wawrinka. „Marin grał nieco lepiej i zasłużył na zwycięstwo. Mam nadzieję, że następnym razem uda mi się wygrać. Starałem się zrobić wszystko co byłem w stanie w tym meczu. W tie breakach próbowałem być nieco bardziej agresywny. To on jednak wykorzystał swoje szanse.”

Tytuł w rywalizacji deblowej zdobyli rozstawieni z numerem dwa Marcel Granollers oraz Santiago Ventura. Hiszpański duet w finale pokonał Tajwańczyka Yen-Hsun Lu i Serba Janko Tipsarevicia 7:5, 6:2.

http://www.tenisklub.pl/?req=news&newsI … 30d0622d4d

Art - 25-01-2010 12:07:36

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/DEUCE- … Cilic.aspx

Marin w DEUCE.

Art - 26-01-2010 16:06:36

Wywiad po 1/4 AO:

Q. Your first Grand Slam semifinal. How did you get there? What was the key to the game?

MARIN CILIC: Today was not easy. I was also a little bit tired from the matches before. First set got a lot of energy out of me 'cause there was I think not only physical battle but also was mental, the battle, the first set, to gain the advantage. So that was most important to win for me.

And then later I started to get into the match a little bit easier. I was feeling a little bit better. But he started to play pretty good in the beginning of the third. Was putting a lot of pressure on me.

Then I got lost a bit. It wasn't easy to come back. I was having trouble with my serve. Wasn't putting enough first serves in. I had to work for every point. It was tough 'cause he started to play much better and closer to the baseline and making me run a lot. Then it wasn't easy to accept that.

So the fifth set was I think a little bit turned around for me when I saved those three breakpoints in the first game. It was a little bit of a relief. I just was thinking to play point by point, to try to stick with him, and I hopefully get my chance, which I did.

Q. Andy said as a 21‑year‑old he was impressed with your composure. Is that something you've worked on or are you naturally relaxed?

MARIN CILIC: No, not really that I particularly worked on that. I'm like that naturally. And definitely it helps me to think about things that I have to do on the court, not to be upset about myself or something like that. I think one positive area in my game.

Q. Does that composure help you through?

MARIN CILIC: Yes, I would say especially today where it would be easy to let it go after losing those two sets, third and fourth that easy, and it wasn't easy to come back in the fifth. And also, of course, in the first match with Tomic where we had a pretty big battle.

Q. Do you think it will also help when you come up to a semifinal?

MARIN CILIC: I'm not sure. In this case I'm not sure yet. I think it's the biggest thing that gonna be in there for me is to try to recover as much as I can and to try to be ready that I can play on my level.

I mean, composure is nothing comparing to physical ability.

Q. What were your thoughts when you could see Andy was suffering a little bit? What was going through your mind?

MARIN CILIC: Well, when I saw he took a medical, I didn't know what was it for. I didn't know what to expect. He was that second set a little bit down with his composure also. It seemed that he was letting it go a little bit easier than in the first set. I didn't know what to expect.

Third set was a bit of a surprise for me when he started to play a little bit better. I think he went for it little bit more and gave it a shot, which was obviously working for him and not for me.

Q. In the first game of the first set, most of us would have said, It's the end of the world. What do you do?

MARIN CILIC: I just think, Oh, man, put that first serve in. I think what I have to do that moment, I tried to pick a spot, pick a combination that I'm going to play, just not think about the score, try to do the best I can on my own side and that's it.

Q. Were you surprised you got out of it?

MARIN CILIC: I was a little bit surprised because he was breaking me pretty easily in those two sets. When I got out of it, I mean, I later started to serve even better. I was mentally fresher.

Q. Do you allow yourself to think about winning the tournament yet?

MARIN CILIC: No. No, I mean, I'm still far away from that. I mean, it's tough to think about that, especially in this case where I had three matches in five sets. It won't be easy.

Q. Why are you playing such good tennis?

MARIN CILIC: 'Cause I'm a good player (smiling).

Q. Why are you a good player?

MARIN CILIC: I know how to learn. I mean, what can I say?

Q. Have you been doing any extra work over the break leading into this year or...

MARIN CILIC: Nothing in particular. I was doing my own routine. Also wasn't easy 'cause we didn't have such a big break, especially for the guys who played the Masters. But, for example, I had four weeks of preparation, which is a little bit maybe short to get ready for the whole season. And I think I did well.

Also playing in Chennai helped me a little bit because also there it's tough and humid and not easy to play. So physically I think I was ready for every match here.

Q. You say you know how to learn. Is Bob Brett a good teacher?

MARIN CILIC: Yes, he's a very good teacher. I'm with him already several years, and he knows how I breathe, how I stand on the court, what things he could give me, which advices in which moment. So he knows me pretty well.

Obviously, he's very experienced. He helped me a lot in this Grand Slam level. Without him, the achievement would be very tough to get to.

Q. Do you have the game to take it to Murray or Nadal?

MARIN CILIC: I mean, I don't know. Today was tough match mentally. Like if I would compare it with the Del Potro match, I played way better. But it's not easy when you come into these stages of tournament where you didn't get to before too many times. It's not easy psychologically to be able to bring your best tennis when you need it.

But for Murray or Nadal, I mean, definitely whoever it's gonna be, it's gonna take also a lot of energy out of me. So we'll see how I'm gonna be able to survive.

ao.com

jaccol55 - 26-01-2010 20:18:17

Cilić w półfinale, ograł Roddicka!

Sensacyjnie rozpoczął się ćwierćfinał panów w wielkoszlemowym turnieju Australian Open. Marin Cilić rozprawił się z Andy Roddickiem i to właśnie Chorwat awansował do półfinału.

Marin Cilić po raz kolejny zagrał pięciosetowy bój. Po walce w IV rundzie z Juanem Martinem del Potro, czas przyszedł na rozprawienie się z wyżej notowanym Andy Roddick'em.


Roddick miał problemy z prawym ramieniem jeszcze w meczu z Fernando Gonzalezem. Gdy musiał uderzyć wysoki forhend Amerykanin poczuł ostry ból, a po pierwszym secie z Cilicem, miał on także mrowienie w całej ręce. Nie był to dobry znak na kolejne sety spotkania ćwierćfinałowego.


Roddick jest jednym z weteranów, ma bogate doświadczenie, na które należy zwrócić uwagę. Cilic, z drugiej strony, startuje dopiero w swoim trzecim Australian Open.


Przez całą swoją karierę, Roddick pracował z różnymi trenerami, starając się znaleźć sposób, by wygrywać wielkoszlemowe turnieje. Wielu trenerów próbowało poprawić styl gry Amerykanina, ale ich poprawki wchodziły w życie krótko, a Roddick powracał zawsze do dawnych zwyczajów. Potem przyszedł Larry Stefanek.


Stefankowi udało się pobudzić Roddicka do walki i odzyskanie motywacji. 18 miesięcy temu Amerykanin był bliski odłożenia rakiety, lecz Roddick teraz gra z kontrolowaną agresją, ma wiele planów gry i ponownie dał o sobie znać jako zagrożenie na wielkich turniejach.


Roddick bardzo dobrze grał w poprzednich rundach, dopóki po drugiej stronie siatki nie stanął 22-letni Chorwat, który tak jak Amerykanin - znakomicie serwuje, gra widowiskowy i siłowy tenis.


Cilić myśli teraz o swoim półfinałowym meczu, natomiast Roddick uda się do lekarza, aby dowiedzieć się dokładnie, co jest przyczyną bólu w ramieniu.


"Wszystko było dobrze aż do meczu z Gonzalezem", powiedział Roddick. "Jednak nie sądzę, że ten ból to oznaka czegoś groźnego."


W drodze do ćwierćfinału Marin Cilić pokonał rozstawionego z numerem czwartym - Juana Martina del Potro. Teraz Chorwat w walce o finał zmierzy się ze zwycięzcą meczu: Andy Murray kontra Rafael Nadal.


Wyniki 1/4 finału:
[14] M Cilic (CRO) d [7] A Roddick (USA) 76(4) 63 36 26 63

http://www.tenis.sport24.pl/news/show/1 … l-roddicka

Art - 26-01-2010 23:25:58

Neil Harman's Net Post: Marin Cilic and Bob Brett - a force to be reckoned with

There were 354 points, all of them utterly absorbing, before Marin Cilic defeated Juan Martin Del Potro, a result that has only added to the fascination of Andy Murray's section of the Australian Open draw this week.

Cilic, the conqueror of Murray in straight sets in last year's US Open, has announced himself as a grand-slam contender in the mould of Goran Ivanisevic. Which is not unexpected considering it was Ivanisevic who sent Cilic to Bob Brett, his former coach, when Cilic was 15 years old. Cilic stayed for a week the first time, he would stay for ever now if he could.

Slowly but surely under the tutelage of Brett, the Australian once interviewed for the post of director of performance at the LTA but who felt the job's destiny had been decided before he had even arrived in London, Cilic has matured into a player rich in talent and of remarkable level-headedness for a 21-year-old. How he steadied his ship having lost the first and fourth sets to Del Potro, was inspirational. There are no Three Gorans here to write home about. Just one Marin.

Brett, who coached Ivanisevic through those times when he was regarded as a serial grand slam underachiever, pins great faith in Cilic but does so in his usual understated manner. Not for Brett the desire for a headline, but only to do well by any player who wants to work with him. Look at Cilic against Del Potro and you understand what the partnership is all about.

Brett is unashamedly old school. He learned the art of man-management at the knee of Harry Hopman, the legendary Australian former Davis Cup captain who ran a regime in the 1950s and 60s that 'his' players still talk about in reverential tones. "There is no question about the influence of Hopman," Brett said. "I think it can well be summed up in the words of Kipling on Centre Court at Wimbledon about treating the twin imposters of triumph and disaster just the same.

"You cannot get too excited with the wins and equally, you should not get too despondent after the losses. It is about working out what is the next step forward in either case and trying to get better. It is about imagination, curiosity, and working hard. With Marin, as with any player I have worked with, you just try to add bits as you go along, but you need to right guy to work with. A coach cannot make a backhand passing shot at break point down, that is the player's task. I regard myself as very lucky."

Which, of course, is understating the job Brett has done. Not only does he still run an academy in San Remo, he is a consultant to Tennis Canada, helping to bring the best of their nation's youth to flower. What he might have done had he been granted the reins at the LTA, we shall never know.

"All credit has to go to Marin, though," he says. "He takes the information I feed to him and it is up to him to make something out of it. It is so important for a coach to be careful. You cannot change a player too quickly, it has to be done in small steps but, equally, there is only a certain window of opportunity available because it is very difficult to change a player once he has developed a certain style."

Whether or not he wins the Australian Open, the Net Post is as certain as possible that Cilic will contest for the majors one day. His performance against Del Potro, especially in the fifth set after he had lost the fourth and the force appeared to be with the Argentine was exemplary. Brett didn't want to say as much, but he loved how his pupil responded. They are quite a pair.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ … 000449.ece

Art - 27-01-2010 20:27:44

Rising star Marin Cilic grins and bears it

JUDGING by his deadpan demeanour on court, it takes a lot to make Marin Cilic smile.

But the gigantic young Croatian finally cracked it for a grin last night as the Rod Laver Arena crowd acknowledged what might be the birth of the next new star.

Cilic, 21, one of the burgeoning breed of ruckman-sized heavy hitters who have been such a feature of the Open, took out the vastly more experienced Andy Roddick in five sets, 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 3-6 2-6 6-3, to reach a Grand Slam semi-final for the first time.

In all ways, it has been the most profitable fortnight of his brief working life - and, boy, has he earned it.

Nobody has spent more time on court.

The combative but not fully fit American - Roddick was nursing an arm injury - detained him for three hours and 50 minutes, making a total of 18 hours on court in his five matches. Two have gone the five-set distance, two lasted four sets and one three - but even that, against ageing Frenchman Fabrice Santoro, was spread over two days because of the weather.

The rewards have been bountiful. As a semi-finalist, he will pocket $400,000, more than double the $195,000 he earned for his previous best performance, reaching the quarters at the US Open last year.

He has won six of his last eight matches against top-10 stars, and this might have been the most impressive of them given that Roddick fought back from two sets down.

It looked like a classic case of a novice on a big stage losing his cool - choking. But Cilic survived the crisis with an impressive calmness that seems to be his secret weapon.

Dressed in the old-fashioned way, entirely in white, and wearing a lugubrious expression that doesn't change no matter what, he comes across as a colourless character - especially for someone who grew up idolising eccentric but accomplished countryman Goran Invanisevic.

But Roddick, who has now lost two of three matches against him, said Cilic's ability to stay composed and not betray his emotions was a crucial factor on both sides of the net.

"Unlike a lot of the young guys who are very emotionally up and down, he doesn't beat on his chest, he stays the course," he said. "He was the same after losing two sets as he was after winning two. He doesn't give you any encouragement. That will serve him well over his career."

That career is now in full swing, and his long and productive week at the office isn't over yet. The Open has a happy habit of producing surprise finalists.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/tenni … 5823773577

DUN I LOVE - 27-01-2010 20:29:19

Marin Cilic coach Bob Brett happy to be home

TENNIS coach Bob Brett will pull the peak of his cap down a fraction lower tonight, content to be just another anonymous face in the crowd at Rod Laver Arena.

While Brett will ride every shot with his man, Marin Cilic, in his semi-final battle against Scot Andy Murray, the eyes won't betray his emotions.

The experienced Australian coach, whose mother lives in Frankston, loves coming home.

And, while it is sweeter that Croatian Cilic has already reached a career-high in Melbourne, the venue is really just a coincidence. "It's great coming back to Melbourne, but it's nice for him to win in any arena. It's all about him," Brett said yesterday.

"He has got the talent, he does all the work. He puts the ball in the court when it counts."

So how does he prepare the 21-year-old after a gruelling schedule to face the fresher Murray?

"He has worked very hard and he's well prepared for the event," Brett said.

"You cannot prepare for every single circumstance, but he's as well prepared as he can possibly be. He would have gained more confidence from getting through those (three five-set) matches which maybe a year ago he was losing. A lot of it becomes psychological how the recovery is. But in the end nobody is going to worry whether someone is tired or not.

"You can produce this statistic or that, but in the end it's who's winning the match and there are no excuses. Go out on the court and give your best.

"Today is very light (practice) as it is the other days because nothing gets changed.

"He has come through (the draw) and he has played some great tennis."

On Cilic's on-court composure for someone so young, Brett said: "It's just the way he is. That's his character, very disciplined. It's self-discipline, it's not imposed on him by anyone else. There's a quiet confidence, continually working to become better.

"He has played some really good tennis these last 10 days.

"It has been something that he has continued since the US Open and he has managed to serve well when he needed to."

While Brett played down his role in the progression of Cilic to the edge of the world's top 10, the Croat is full of gratitude for the coach who's endeavouring to steer him to similar grand slam glory as past pupils Boris Becker and Goran Ivanisevic.

"He's a very good teacher," Cilic said.

"I'm with him already several years and he knows how I breathe, how I stand on the court, what things he could give me advice. So he knows me pretty well.

"Obviously, he's very experienced. He helped me a lot in this grand slam level. Without him, the achievement would be very tough to get to."

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/tenni … 5824175613

Art - 27-01-2010 20:36:03

Marin Cilic the tactician wise beyond his years

Bob Brett has seen it all before, more than once. Anyone who has coached Boris Becker, Goran Ivanisevic, John Lloyd, Andrei Medvedev and Mario Ancic has endured enough of the vagaries of this sport not to be surprised by anything that lands at his feet.

If Marin Cilic, his latest charge, should beat Andy Murray today, Brett will be embarrassed at the plaudits; if Murray wins, he would be as delighted for him as he would be in the case of a victory for the Croat.

“I’ve learnt that you can never let jealousy enter into it,” Brett, a Melbourne native and tour coach since 1979, said. “I know how great it would be for Andy, for the game, for the project that is British tennis, for all these things should he win.

“I’m intrigued at the changes he has made to his game; he has certainly become fitter, stronger and is also playing better than he’s ever done. He has come through different phases in his game and though people have been critical of him, he is dedicated, committed and determined. He is smart enough to know what’s best for his career.”

If the sense comes through with those words that Brett would have enjoyed coaching Murray, you are probably right. He would never say so, of course, for that is not his style. He is perennially understated.

Brett would not work with anyone who did not want to do the best for himself. Cilic is the latest to have responded unequivocally to his coach’s sureness of touch. “Marin is a very disciplined person, but it is a self- discipline and not something that has been imposed on him,” Brett said. “He worked very hard preparing for this event and though you cannot be ready for every single circumstance, he is in as good a position as he could be. He’s played a lot of tennis here, but I believe he is ready to play Andy.”

Murray will be faced with a very clever player indeed. As Ivan Ljubicic, the elder statesman of the Croatian game, said in New York last summer after his compatriot’s straight-sets defeat of Murray in the fourth round of the US Open: “Marin is our tactician, a very smart guy. Whenever I play one of the young guys on the tour, I ask for his advice and he really understands the game. He gives me great tips. I’m sure that’s the influence of Bob [Brett], but he has a good head as well. The first time I watched him play, he lost one and one and I remember thinking, ‘This is it?’ He was really up and down. But that’s always the case with the big, tall guys. It takes them time to find their game, but he has found it now.”

Brett concurred: “A coach is just there to organise and make sure you don’t ruin everything, because Marin’s got all the ability and an unbelievable work ethic. He’s someone who comes to the court ready to play and wants to become better and has the passion to play the game at the highest level. What more can you ask for? A year ago, he was losing the kind of matches he’s winning now.”

Much has been made of Cilic having played three five-set matches and one of four sets to reach the semi-finals, a factor that could be to the Briton’s advantage. “Once it is decided, no one is going to worry if anyone was more tired or not,” Brett said. “There will be no excuses. He will go out and give of his best. For certain he is going to have to play some great tennis, we shall see if he can do it.”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ … 005000.ece

DUN I LOVE - 27-01-2010 20:41:18

Composure of Marin Cilic will pose problems for Andy Murray

Marin Cilic was 15 years old when he arrived at the academy run by Bob Brett in San Remo, Italy, at the insistence of Goran Ivanisevic.

Cilic stayed a week. Six months later, he was back, lasted a month and the seeds of a partnership were sown. “I’m fortunate to work with somebody like him,” Brett, the Australian, said. The feeling is mutual.

Ivanisevic swore by Brett during their four years together from 1991, to the extent that when he reached the 2001 Wimbledon final, he insisted that Brett came over to watch. It was no real surprise, therefore, that when Ivanisevic first caught sight of Cilic, the first name that sprang to mind was this high disciple of Harry Hopman, the legendary Australian coach.

Cilic has looked the part from the moment he stepped into the professional ranks, a player who did not seem to be the slightest bit fazed by the company he was destined to keep.

The fourth Croatian man to reach a grand-slam semi-final after Ivanisevic, Mario Ancic and Ivan Ljubicic, he broke into the top 100 in October 2007 and has been in the top 20 for almost a year, establishing his credentials as the heir apparent to Ivanisevic, without the former Wimbledon champion’s mad impulses.

“He’s definitely composed,” Andy Roddick, who was on the sharp end of Cilic’s 7-6, 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 6-3 victory yesterday, said. “He was the same after he had lost two sets as when he won two sets. That will definitely serve him well over his career.

"He just goes about his business, does it the right way and seems like a very hard worker. He doesn’t give you any encouragement, like feeling you are on top of him. He plays similarly to [Juan Martin] Del Potro in that he minimalises his movement because he controls the points so well.”

Words that would have sounded like sweet music to his coach.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ … 003270.ece

DUN I LOVE - 28-01-2010 21:51:35

Wywiad po przegranym półfinale AO10:

An interview with:
MARIN CILIC


THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Your first Grand Slam semifinal didn't turn out like you would want, but what were your thoughts on the game generally?

MARIN CILIC: Well, I mean, in the end I'm, of course, a little bit sad because of the final result. But overall I played beginning of the match very good, and with that part I was really pleased.

I think I played some great points. I was standing on the court really good. I was playing some unbelievable points there. I think later when he got back into the game in the second set when he broke me, I think he got a little bit of the momentum going and wasn't easy after to get back into it.

I would say my first‑serve percentage was low, and I had to play a lot of rallies, which I didn't turn out playing as well as in the beginning where I was a little more fresher and a little closer to the ball. I was pushing him a little more and putting more pressure. Instead, he was doing that on me. It wasn't easy to get out of those kind of situations.

But I think he played well and he deserved to win.

Q. You played three five‑set matches. Did that make you a little tired?

MARIN CILIC: Well, I mean, I wouldn't put my tiredness an excuse for losing this match. I think he deserved to win. Any player who comes to the semis has its own way. And today I wouldn't say that I was a hundred percent, but I gave my best, and that's most important that I can say.

Q. What makes him such a tough opponent?

MARIN CILIC: Because he's adapting on each kind of game pretty good. He can read the game easy. He can serve well. Very good overall player and not easy to play, especially on the hard courts.

Definitely he came up with some great shots, especially when he broke me in the second set for 3‑2. He passed me when I lobbed him. I mean, his physical ability's really on top of the game.

Q. How do you rate his chances in the final?

MARIN CILIC: Well, it's tough to say from this perspective. But I think he has a pretty good chance. He's playing well, hitting the ball good. And I think he has a solid chance to make it.

Q. When he played that shot to break you in the second set, was that quite demoralizing, the way the crowd seemed to get into the match more after that?

MARIN CILIC: I mean, it wasn't demoralizing. He made it. I was just a little bit angry on myself because I had an easier shot when I played the backhand short cross‑court there. I had an open court. Just today on some shots I was making other decisions than I was making in the other matches when I was a little bit fresher.

In some points, especially in the fourth set where I lost my serve twice with 40‑15 up, those just kind of situations are critical in these kind of matches where it comes to one or two points which are just making big decisions.

Q. Did you surprise yourself making it to the semifinals here? Have you regarded yourself as someone capable of making the last four at Grand Slams?

MARIN CILIC: I wasn't thinking that I'm going to get this far. But I knew I played well in the beginning of the year. I was going through the draw very tough. Also in my second round I had tough five‑setter. Since that point to look at now where I made the semis, it's amazing experience and amazing result.

Just I think it's one big step forward for myself.

Q. By making the semifinal, you're in the top 10 now. What does that mean for the rest of the season?

MARIN CILIC: Well, I mean, my last year I was all the time around 14, 15 ranking. I was all the time circling around that numbers. This, of course, is in one perspective relief, but also in the other perspective gives me something more.

I know that I'm physically feeling good and I think this is a good base for my next Grand Slams in this year.

Q. This week everyone has been impressed by the way you played the big points. You never seem to look too worried out there. How have you learnt to be so composed at a young age?

MARIN CILIC: I'm like that naturally. I'm always pretty calm. But when you're on the court, you got to be able to think what you got to do, not to be angry about yourself. That's gonna always put you in a disadvantage.

I was doing that very good. That gave me, of course, some important points when I needed them.

Q. I know it's so soon straight after the match, but looking ahead at other majors now, looking back at the journeys you've had here, do you think you'll become a little bit more aggressive more often, hit the ball harder earlier in the points, if you can?

MARIN CILIC: Well, it was working good. I mean, it was working good for me here to play those five‑setters. I mean, it's a tough balance to find 'cause you got to ‑‑ I mean, you have your own game, and it's tough to change something, especially when you come to biggest tournaments there are. You always gonna stick to something that you are feeling good with.

It's not easy to change some things. But, of course, by playing more on this level that I played here, it's gonna help me to play against lower‑ranked players easier, and I'm gonna be able to get easier through the draw.

Q. Did you have somebody come up to you out of the stands and shake your hand?

MARIN CILIC: I think the fan got excited and he wanted to shake my hand, so... I gave him a present.

Q. What did you give him?

MARIN CILIC: Nothing. I shook his hand.

Q. He had a Croatian jumper on.

MARIN CILIC: Right, he was happy.

http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/new … 09609.html

Bizon - 30-01-2010 22:17:17

Wydaje mi sie ze Cilic moze dlugo odchorowywac ten polfinal AO. 3 mordercze pieciosetowki + 2 dlugie czterosetowki moga sie dac Chorwatowi w znaki, zwlaszcza ze jest mocno cherlawej postury.

DUN I LOVE - 01-02-2010 09:34:36

01.02.2010 - Marin Cilić w Top-10 rankingu ATP!

http://i48.tinypic.com/65pcfp.jpg

Gratulacje Marin! ;)

Sydney - 01-02-2010 16:59:49

Goran Ivanisevic trenerem Marina Cilicia

Najlepszy w historii chorwacki tenisista Goran Ivanisevic wraca do sportu. Będzie trenerem Marina Cilicia, który w najnowszym notowaniu światowego rankingu awansował z 14. na 10. pozycję.

"To wielki zaszczyt współpracować z Goranem" - powiedział w poniedziałek w Zagrzebiu Cilic, który w zakończonym w niedzielę wielkoszlemowym Australian Open dotarł do półfinału.

Największym sukcesem 38-letniego obecnie Ivanisevica był triumf w Wimbledonie w 2001 roku. Cztery lata później sięgnął z reprezentacją po Puchar Davisa. W 2006 roku miał zostać kapitanem daviscupowej drużyny, ale nie doszedł do porozumienia z władzami federacji. Wtedy deklarował, że "opuszcza tenis na długi czas".

http://sport.interia.pl/tenis/news/gora … 1433122,27

DUN I LOVE - 07-02-2010 22:47:35

#5) Zagrzeb 2010

R32 Hajek 62 62
R16 Koellerer 62 61
QF Karlović [7] 76 64
SF Melzer [3] 76 64
F Berrer 64 67 63

http://www.atpworldtour.com/~/media/06D1B73CC7A5472B940E6B0C1D4F298F.ashx

metjuAR - 08-02-2010 02:06:32

Czy ja dobrze widzę że Cilić jest uśmiechnięty :D:D ?

Kastet1 - 08-02-2010 09:29:36

No w finale z Berrerem było ciężko, widać, że Niemiec ma potencjał aby znaleźć się w Top 5 . A Cilić w tym sezonie to jest chyba 2 w rankingu Race.

Statystyczny - 08-02-2010 10:15:25

Kastet, może chodziło ci o Top 50 z tym potencjałem Niemca, bo pomysł z Top 5 jest raczej śmieszny xD.

DUN I LOVE - 08-02-2010 11:31:04

metjuAR napisał:

Czy ja dobrze widzę że Cilić jest uśmiechnięty :D:D ?

Hehe. :D Ma powody, pewnie perspektywa tak zasłużonego urlopu Go uradowała. :D

Serenity - 11-03-2010 16:47:28

Ivanisevic Extends Cilic Coaching Role

Goran Ivanisevic demolished Michael Chang on day one of the ATP Champions Tour event in Zurich and then announced that he is to continue coaching World No. 9 Marin Cilic, the 2010 ATP match-wins leader, on a part-time basis.

Ivanisevic, who despatched Chang 6-4, 7-6(3), will travel with the Australian Open semi-finalist to the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events in Miami and Madrid in a continuation of a relationship that began at the PBZ Zagreb Indoors tournament in February, which Cilic won.

The 21-year-old is coached on a full-time basis by Ivanisevic’s former coach Bob Brett, but in Miami and Madrid Brett will take a step back and allow his old protégé to take the reigns.

“It should be fun," Ivanisevic told the ATP Champion’s Tour website. "Bob is still his coach but in Miami and Madrid I am going to be his replacement while he is not there. I will be like a mentor to Marin.”

It was Ivanisevic who first brought a 15-year-old Cilic to Brett’s attention in 2004, and the pair have worked together ever since at Brett's academy in San Remo, Italy.

Ivanisevic is so determined to win the BNP Paribas Zurich Open this week and then follow up successfully at the inaugural Seguros Bolivar Tennis Champions in Bogota, Colombia, that he has spent weeks practicing with Cilic. He believes it has done the trick - he moved well throughout against Chang and even hit a couple of serves timed at 218km/h (135mp/h).

“I practiced with Marin for a couple of weeks in February and I’m feeling very well prepared for this event. Hitting with Marin has really helped me. I hope the speed gun is accurate here, because 218km/h is good. Hopefully I can go even faster this week. I’ll definitely try. This event is really nice and the court is absolutely perfect as well so I’m really enjoying it here.”

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis … -Role.aspx


Jak ma być do Ivanisevicia ten news to przenieście ;)

Art - 11-03-2010 20:55:46

Ivanisevic nadal będzie pomagał Cilicowi jako trener

Były tenisista chorwacki Goran Ivanisevic potwierdził, że będzie kontynuował współpracę jako doraźny trener z rodakiem Marinem Cilicem, obecnie dziewiątym w rankingu ATP World Tour i półfinalistą styczniowego turnieju wielkoszlemowego Australian Open.

Najbliższe wspólne plany chorwackiego tandemu to dwa turnieje rangi ATP Masters 1000 w marcu w Miami i w maju w Madrycie. Współpraca ta rozpoczęła się w lutym podczas halowej imprezy ATP Tour w Zagrzebiu, którą Cilic wygrał.

Stałym trenerem 21-letniego Serba jest były szkoleniowiec Ivanisevica - Bob Brett, który będzie się teraz zmieniał ze swoim byłym podopiecznym.

"To zabawna sytuacja. Bob jest wciąż jego trenerem, ale w Miami i Madrycie to ja go zastąpię w tej roli. W sumie będę dla Marina jakby mentorem" - powiedział Ivanisevic, który razem z Brettem wypatrzyli w 2004 roku 15-letniego wówczas Cilica.

Zaproponowali mu wówczas miejsce w akademii tenisowej Bretta w San Remo.

"W tym roku przez kilka tygodni trenowaliśmy z Marinem i jestem przekonany, że jest dobrze przygotowany do startów w dużych turniejach. Cieszy mnie, że potrafi serwować z prędkością 218 km/godz., chociaż uważam, ze może serwować jeszcze szybciej" - - dodał Ivanisevic, posiadacz jednego z najlepszych serwisów wśród tenisistów w latach 90. i na początku tej dekady.

Pochodzący ze Splitu chorwacki tenisista w 2001 roku odniósł największe zwycięstwo, wygrywając Wimbledon, w swoim czwartym występie w finale na londyńskiej trawie. Był to jego ostatni tytuł w karierze.

http://sport.onet.pl/tenis/ivanisevic-n … omosc.html

Raddcik - 06-06-2010 21:29:47

‘Baby Goran’ ready to show he’s all grown up

Marin Cilic, the 21-year-old Croatian derided for being too nice, intends to fulfil his potential this year at Wimbledon.

THREE months ago, Marin Cilic walked onto a golf driving range in California with his brother, Vinko, and his coach, Bob Brett.

Six weeks had passed since his defeat by Andy Murray in the semi-finals of the Australian Open. Three weeks had passed since his loss to Jurgen Melzer in the quarter-finals of the Barclays championships in Dubai. Three days had passed since his defeat by Guillermo Garcia-Lopez at Indian Wells. But nobody had seen him behave like this.

He snatched at the driver and whiffed another ball. “****! You cannot be serious!” shouted Cilic, the 21-year-old Croatian and world No 12, who has never been mistaken for John McEnroe.

“I’ve never heard anyone say a bad word about Marin,” says David Law, the media director of the Aegon championships at Queen’s. “He seems to be a really nice, straightforward, popular bloke. Some have said ‘too nice’ to win the big ones, but with his game, I doubt it. The fact that he is still working with Bob [Brett] tells me a lot. Bob is one of the great thinkers of the sport and I get the feeling that Marin and he are kindred spirits.”

Ivan Ljubicic, a former Davis Cup teammate, painted a similar portrait last year after Cilic thrashed Murray at the US Open. “Marin is our tactician, a very smart guy. Whenever I play one of the young guys on the tour, I ask for his advice and he really understands the game. He gives me great tips.”

We meet on a pleasant afternoon in Munich and I have asked Cilic to choose three sportsmen he might like to invite to dinner.

“Well, I’ve never really thought about that,” he says, “but I would probably choose guys who . . . Bob has been telling me about this Australian 1500m runner who never lost a race.”

“Herb Elliott?”

“Yeah, that’s him.”

“Why would you invite Elliott?”

“Well, Bob is always talking to me about life and how to improve, and to push yourself to be better. He had some great stories about him and how he never accepted defeat, and when you play an individual sport that is one of the most important things.”

“Who else?”

“Maybe Usain Bolt.”

“Why Bolt?”

“Because he is so superior in what he does and he is a similar height as me,” he says, laughing.

“Okay, one more.”

“Maybe Michael Jordan. I watched a lot of basketball when I was younger and he was one of the best athletes.”

I ask about those days when he was younger. We spend an hour chatting about his life and go our separate ways. Some 23 minutes later, he sends me an email . . .

Hi Paul, it’s Marin.

I was thinking about that question of three persons I would go to dinner with, and instead of Michael Jordan I would put Kaka, the soccer player. He is one of my favourite athletes in general and seems like a really nice and humble guy. Thanks a lot. It was nice talking to you.

If only they were all like him.

The third of four boys born to Zdenko and Koviljka Cilic, he was raised in the town of Medjugorje, in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and remembers a childhood traumatised not by war (the family moved to Croatia for a period during the conflict with Serbia), but by the agony of watching Goran Ivanisevic at Wimbledon.

Cilic was three when Ivanisevic lost the final to Andre Agassi in 1992, five when he was runner-up to Pete Sampras in 1994 and nine when he went down to the Pistol again in 1998.

“We watched all of his matches and when he lost in ’98 it was really sad,” he says.

“People got a bit cooled down from tennis after that, and when he won in 2001 it was just miraculous.”

Medjugorje was not averse to the odd miracle. There was the apparition of the Virgin Mary in 1981, the millions of pilgrims who flocked to its shrine, and there was the ramshackle tennis court where the new “Baby Goran” smashed his first ace and began to hone his skills.

At 14, he moved to a relative’s house in Zagreb to use better facilities, and within a year he was hitting with Ivanisevic, and working with Brett, whose former proteges include Ivanisevic, Boris Becker and Andre Medvedev.

“I was lucky to be able to stay in my godparents’ house,” Cilic says, “and that my father was able to finance me to go to some of the tournaments, but nobody ever pushed me to wake up in the morning or to be there on time. I was never late for practice. I wanted it for myself.”

In 2005, he served note of his talent by defeating the top seed Andy Murray en route to the French Open junior title and ended the season as the top-ranked junior in the world. A year later he posted his first ATP win, made his debut in the Davis Cup and had climbed into the top 175 of the ATP rankings. In 2007, he broke into the top 100 and defeated Tim Henman on his debut at Queen’s.

In 2008, he captured his first ATP title at New Haven, climbed to 22 in the rankings and was Croatia’s top player for the first time. He won twice in 2009, reached his first Grand Slam quarter-final at the US Open and cracked the top 20.

But the steps are getting harder now as he closes on the summit.

“Every practice counts, every ball counts, but it can be really tough to put it all together. A young player who is coming up can work on his backhand or the weak parts of his game, but when you get to the top, these things are sensitive to change and you can’t really experiment.

“To win a Grand Slam would be a great achievement, but I’m just trying to enjoy each time I’m on the court and to give 100%.”

In January, his composure and mental fortitude were highlighted in Melbourne when, after three five-set matches and one of four sets, he became the first Croatian man to reach the Australian Open semi-finals. His opponent, Andy Murray, was playing beautifully and had not dropped a set, and Cilic knew he had to strike early.

“I felt I could do it,” he says, “and did really well to push myself and get the psychological advantage [he won the first set 6-3] but in the second set it turned around a bit [he lost 6-4] and also in a mental way. When you are in front you breathe easier and each point pushes you along, but when it turns around it’s much harder, and I began to feel tired. If you are one step behind, those guys are merciless, they take everything, and it was really tough after that point to get back into it.”

“Do you like Murray?” I ask.

“I don’t have anything against him,” he says. “I get along with most of the guys. Everybody does what they think is best for them to win but outside of the court, everything is fine.”

“Who would you be closest to?” I press.

“We all hang around together but it’s very . . . [superficial],” he says. “We are not going to have dinner with each other.”

“And if you could?” I ask. “Who would you most like to sit down with? Which of your rivals’ brains would you most like to pick?”

“Federer, obviously, but I admire Nadal for his attitude and his discipline. I really like him in that sense as an athlete. He is really simple and always gives his best.”

I ask him how crushing it would be if he were never to win a slam, but the words have barely left my lips when I offer a retraction. The notion seems absurd.

“I don’t imagine you would feel crushed by anything,” I observe. “You seem far too balanced.”

“Balanced is good, but too balanced? Hmmm, maybe not,” he replies.

“You probably need a few demons,” I suggest.

“Yeah.”

“Perhaps you should play more golf.”

“That would do it,” he says, smiling.

Marin Cilic will compete against Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Andy Roddick in the AEGON championships at The Queen's Club, starting tomorrow. The tournament will be shown live, every day, on the BBC and Eurosport.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ … 144888.ece

Serenity - 05-09-2010 10:40:51

US Open 2010 - wywiad po porażce w 2 rundzie

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Could you explain what happened to your body at the end of the match in the fifth set.

MARIN CILIC: I mean, not much to explain. The conditions were really tough, and was I think very tough. Even beginning first two, three sets was tough to run and to maintain that level. Afterwards I think both of us got really exhausted. But he was, in the end of the match and after winning that fourth set a little bit breathing mentally easier. I think that helped him. I was, of course, struggling. I saw he was, as well. That was the case in the end of the match.

Q. Is it difficult to lose a match when you fight so hard to come up short?

MARIN CILIC: Yeah, I mean, it's not easy to accept that you stayed on the court five hours and then had your chances and in the end you are down because, I mean, tennis I think it's more just physical. I would say the conditions were really tough. It was very humid. It wasn't easy to get the oxygen. That was it.

Q. Coming into this tournament, I know you didn't get good results in the US Open Series leading up, but can you talk about your condition in the late summer and how you felt coming into the tournament? Did you feel physically and mentally ready to go the distance deep into this tournament?

MARIN CILIC: Well, I would say that I was preparing pretty good and I had good week in Washington where I played semis, then had two losses in first round. I mean, I was feeling fine. I was even thinking to play New Haven, but I decided not to, because I felt pretty good on the court and I was hitting the ball pretty well. I was excited to play here. And I think I was pretty good prepared. I can't say that I wasn't. But just today was really exceptional and doesn't happen too often, conditions like this.

Q. Did you feel at some point that you may not be able to get up and go back out on the court?

MARIN CILIC: How do you mean?

Q. When he was working on you, did you feel like, This is it?

MARIN CILIC: No, I felt exhausted. But I felt I could I mean, I'm going to play until the end. I'm not going to retire because of those things.

Q. You played Kei two years ago in Indian Wells. Last time you won very easily. Compared to that match, did you see any progress in Kei? Did he do anything which surprised you?

MARIN CILIC: I don't know. I mean, it's tough to say. I think he probably got a little bit physically stronger and his ball is a little bit heavier. But I can't really see some things. Both of us, I would say we didn't play the best, especially because of the conditions, and it was tough to see which areas are better and which are not.

Q. When she asked you earlier about your body at the end, what were you feeling? You mentioned oxygen. Were you having trouble getting air? Were you having cramps?

MARIN CILIC: Yeah, I mean, I start to feel cramps in the end of the fourth set. But with that, I was all right toward the end of the match. It was just the general tiredness and exhaustion.

http://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/interv … 90303.html

jaccol55 - 19-12-2010 15:08:45

The Last Word: ATP No. 14, Marin Cilic

http://www.tennis.com/articles/articlefiles/9303-201012131017370355811-p2@stats_com.jpg
Cilic peaked at the Australian Open,
where he reached his first Grand Slam semifinal.


Best of 2010

Cilic began the year looking like the breakthrough player of 2010. In Melbourne, he won back-to-back five-setters over Juan Martin del Potro and Andy Roddick to reach his first Grand Slam semifinal. It would be his last breakthrough of the season.

Worst of 2010

The first sign of weakness, or potential exhaustion, after Australia came in Cilic’s horrid first-round loss to Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in Indian Wells in March. He struggled to hit two straight balls in the court and lost the second set at love.

Year in Review

Judging from his 2010 results overall, you’d have to say Cilic had burned himself out by the first week in February. By that time, he’d already played 16 matches, won two tournaments, and reached the semis of a major. He paid for all that court time in the second half of the year. Cilic failed to get past the second round in his last nine events.

See for Yourself

Cilic didn’t save his best stuff for last. Here he begins the year by beating Juan Martin del Potro in Melbourne:



The Last Word

As of March, Cilic seemed ready to his place as the next Del Potro, possibly the next Slam winner. Now he seems like a guy who may be built for the long haul. While he ended the year a respectable No. 14, this season feels like a step back. Recommended: Pace yourself.

—Steve Tignor

http://www.tennis.com/articles/template … 3&zoneid=9

DUN I LOVE - 24-12-2010 17:24:57

2010 w liczbach

Ranking: 14
Tytuły: 2 (Chennai, Zagrzeb)
Finały: 1 (Monachium)
Bilans gier: 40-22
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Serenity - 24-01-2011 15:54:01

AO 2011 - wywiad po porażce w 4 rundzie

Q. How was it psychologically going into the match knowing you had this 1 0 advantage over Nadal, but also knowing he hasn't lost a match since the last Australian Open at a Grand Slam?
MARIN CILIC: Well, I mean, didn't make too big a difference as we played year and a half ago, and it was a time when he was also coming back from an injury. I mean, completely different match this one was.

I came into the match, of course, with a belief that I could do well. But I'd say it was really tough conditions to play, pretty cold. It wasn't as quick as the other days that I played. So it was a little bit of a change up for me. Didn't found my way on the court.

Q. How would you compare Rafa's level now with what he was doing last year?

MARIN CILIC: I mean, it's tough to say. From this match, I didn't push him too much. You couldn't see how much does he have in the tank and, I mean, especially as I didn't play great. So it's tough to say.

But definitely he's got good confidence. I think conditions this year are a little bit slower this year and could suit him a little bit more.

Q. Were you tired after the match with John Isner?

MARIN CILIC: Not really. I didn't feel too much lacking in physical abilities. I felt all right. Just as I said, it's more the conditions that were suiting him a little more than me as the ball wasn't flying through the air as much, and it was really tough to put an aggressive play into the game.

Q. When you say 'the conditions,' you mean the weather or something different with the court?

MARIN CILIC: The weather mostly. I mean, it was pretty cold last few days. Tonight was also pretty cold. The ball wasn't as bouncing as much as when I played my last match. So it was a little bit different and more rallies were coming into the play. That, of course, suits him.

Q. I know you were not a member of the winning team in 2005 of the Davis Cup, but do you still feel the benefits of that victory for Croatia?

MARIN CILIC: Yes and no. Yes, those first couple years big attention came also to the Federation and everything else, to the juniors as well, of course. I benefited from that.

But this time not really. I mean, the tennis has maybe even a little cooled down. In past years we had some good successes in Davis Cup for past years. But not as big as that year. It didn't make too big a difference.

Q. What are your plans for 2011? What are your hopes? What do you hope to achieve?

MARIN CILIC: Well, hoping that I'm gonna come back closer to top 10. With this loss here, I'm going to drop a little bit in my ranking. I was defending semis over here. So, I mean, it's not easy for sure. But just hoping to get my good form back.

This was my first tournament in a while that I won two, three matches in a row, so I'm pretty pleased with that. I can take these positives out of here and push myself a little more for next tournaments.

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DUN I LOVE - 23-02-2011 16:44:36

Pierwszy finał w 2011.

Po serii niepowodzeń Chorwat wreszcie zanotował przyzwoity wynik, docierając do finału turnieju ATP w Marsylii. Zwycięzca 5 turniejów rangi ATP przegrał swój 4 finał w karierze.

Marin Cilić - finały (4)
2011 Marsylia
2010 Monachium
2009 Wiedeń, Pekin

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