Marin Cilic: "Health of the ATP tour" better than it has been for a long time
In an interview, Marin Cilic spoke extremely positively about the current state of men's tennis. When the game starts again, the product of the ATP tour is stronger than it has been for many years.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: May 23, 2020, 09:37 am
"The health of tennis has improved steadily over the past twelve to 18 months," Cilic, who sees the "mix with the younger generation" as a recipe for success, told Reuters . "There are now at least ten guys who are promising and really strong. They also show their potential in the big tournaments. And there is still the older generation."
The 31-year-old Croatian has been one of the few players, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, to contest a Grand Slam title in recent seasons. In 2014 he won the US Open, in the final he won against Kei Nishikori.
"I think the tennis tour is very strong at the moment. The competition is back to the level it was between 2008 and 2010, when we really had a lot of big names in the sport," said Cilic.
Marin Cilic: Grand Slams should distribute money better
The 1.98 meter man is currently in 37th place in the ATP ranking. At the Australian Open last January, he had to go to a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in six years. "I still think there is room for me at the top of the world, but I have to earn it," said Cilic, the former number three in the world. In the next few years he dares to establish himself among the ten to 15 best players in the world.
His path back to the top was interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. While Cilic has earned nearly $ 28 million in his career, he worried about those players who depend on tournament cashes in everyday life.
"Tennis is one of the largest sports in the world, but still only around 250 players can make a living from it. The Grand Slams in particular have to provide sufficient funds for the poorly placed players and smaller tournaments. I think there would be enough money," said the 18- multiple ATP tournament winner.