Australian Open: Marin Cilic shocks Andrey Rublev with a picture-book performance
Marin Cilic is in the round of 16 of the Australian Open after a sensational performance. The 2014 US Open winner shocked world number five Andrey Rublev with an offensive game and, after a short period of weakness, gained the upper hand 7: 5, 7: 6 (3), 3: 6 and 6: 3.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Jan 22, 2022, 01:45 pm
Marin Cilic's direction was obvious from the start: attack is the best form of defence. The Croatian put everything in from the first point, firing winner after winner in the direction of Andrey Rublev with his forehand. The US Open winner from 2014 already had ten after five games. At this point, Cilic had already pulled away 4:1. Although the Russian managed to make a comeback in a sentence, the fifth in the world rankings had to accept another break when the score was 5:5. This should now be enough for Cilic to win the set 7:5.
This key continued in the second round: Cilic dictated his service games and risked a lot as a return player. The service games on both sides were correspondingly short - neither player was able to earn even a breakball in this set. And accordingly, a tie-break in round two had to make the decision.
Cilic with a short trailer
A tie-break in which Cilic started like a fire brigade, once again brilliantly staged the forehand and quickly made it 4:1. Marin Cilic had finally played himself into a frenzy - with 7:3 in the short decision and - how could it be otherwise - the Croatian also secured the second set with a forehand winner.
In the third set, too, Marin Cilic initially acted outstandingly, managed another break, pulled away to 3:1 and even had a chance to make it 4:1 with another break. Rublev defended and then found the match better and better, managed the rebreak and finally - with a whopping five game wins in a row - made the set win 6: 3 perfect.
Cilic now against Felix Auger-Aliassime
A big break in this match? Not even close. Cilic took his time during the break, left the court and re-entered it with renewed strength. In the fourth game, the Croatian got another early break, which the 33-year-old now knew how to confirm. Now Andrey Rublev no longer had a comeback in the quiver - after a little more than two hours and 30 minutes the US Open champion from 2014 made the 7: 5, 7: 6 (3), 3: 6 and 6: 3 success perfect .
In the round of 16, Marin Cilic now meets Felix Auger-Aliassime (clear three-set win against Dan Evans), possible quarter-final opponent is number two in the tennis world: Daniil Medvedev. During the night (CET), he clearly defeated Botic van de Zandschulp in three sets.
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