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28 March 2024

US Open Men's Singles Final: Cilic crushes Nishikori to emerge champion

Published
By Correspondent & Reuters

Croatia's Marin Cilic swept past Japan's Kei Nishikori 6-3 6-3 6-3 to win the U.S. Open on Monday and reach the pinnacle of the sport one year after a doping ban kept him out of the year's final grand slam.

The big-serving Croatian overwhelmed a weary Nishikori in one hour, 54 minutes to clinch a ruthless victory and deny his 10th-seeded opponent's bid to become the first Asian man to win a grand slam.

With the win, 14th seed Cilic becomes the first Croatian to win a grand slam title since his coach Goran Ivanisevic celebrated a Wimbledon victory in 2001.

The final marked the first time since the 2005 Australian Open that at least one of tennis's big three of Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer was not playing for the title. 


THIRD
 SET: MARIN CILIC 6 KEI NISHIKORI 3

Brilliant serves as Cilic celebrates. He has been in stunning form throughout the tournament and today was no different. For Nishikori it was a disappointing end but nevertheless a brilliant run in the tournament. Cilic 6 Nishikori 3

Nishikori successfully keeps his serve but it's Cilic who will be serving for the set and match. The Japanese lad has one last shot to change the match situation. Cilic 5 Nishikori 3

Nishikori refuses to give up as he quickly earns a double breakpoint. Cilic takes his time to recover and manages to save both. Nishikori again secures a breakpoint but Cilic does not let the game slip out of his hand. Great fight that was from the Croatian. Cilic 5 Nishikori 2

Easy one for Nishikori as he wins four straight points to hold his serve. Cilic 4 Nishikori 2

No problem there for Cilic, though Nishikori provides glimpses of hope reaching 40-30. The Croatian is just two games away from the championship victory. Cilic 4 Nishikori 1

BREAK!
 Cilic's playing a perfect gameplan as he secures a double breakpoint. Nishikori desperate not to give it in saves one before an unforced error ensures cilic earns the break. Cilic 3 Nishikori 1

Cilic inching closer to a dream win. Nishikori does not have an answer to Cilic's brilliance as the Croatian holds his serve easily. Cilic 2 Nishikori 1

Nishikori is not having the best of the game. He looks unsettled but fights hard to hold his serve after it enters deuce. He desperately needs to break Cilic early to stay in the match. Cilic 1 Nishikori 0

Cilic serves continue to dominate. But a rare double fault ensures the game heads to deuce. But the Croatian does not let his opponent dictate as he holds serve. Cilic 1 Nishikori 0

SECOND
 SET: MARIN CILIC 6 KEI NISHIKORI 3

BREAK! Nishikori steps up his game but he commits errors at crucial juncture to give Cilic a breakpoint. Cilic does not let the opportunity go as he takes the second set to lead 2-0.  Nishikori 4 Cilic 6

BREAK!
Nishikori has created himself another opportunity by claiming a double breakpoint but Cilic continues to send in those big serves as he takes it to deuce. But Nishikori keeps his focus and finally succeeds in breaking Cilic. Nishikori 3 Cilic 5

BREAK!
Cilic seems to be in a hurry to finish the match as he gains another double breakpoint. Nishikori continues to struggle as he finds the net again to hand over the break. Nishikori 2 Cilic 5

It's all going easy for Cilic. He is unstoppable as his serves seem to be getting better and better. Four straight points ensures he holds his serve. Nishikori 2 Cilic 4

Nishikori puts the disappointment behind quickly to seal his serve without losing a point. He is desperately trying to crack Cilic's serve. Nishikori 2 Cilic 3

Nishikori turns the heat on Cilic as he earns a double breakpoint. But an experienced Cilic handles the pressure well to wipe them out and hold serve. Nishikori 1 Cilic 3

BREAK!
Cilic quickly picks up a triple breakpoint. Nishikori fights back hard saving all the three to force a deuce. Cilic does not let it slip away as a stunning winner gets him another breakpoint and Nishikori finds the net to give Cilic the break. Nishikori 1 Cilic 2

Minimum effort from Cilic as he wraps his game losing just a point. His serves have been impeccable. Nishikori 1 Cilic 1

Nishikori makes a positive start into the second set comfortably winning his serve. The Japanese lad gets some fine winners en route to his first game. Nishikori 1 Cilic 0

FIRST SET: MARIN CILIC 6 KEI NISHIKORI 3


It's an easy one for Cilic as he comfortably holds serve without dropping a point to seal the first set. Nishikori will have to deal with Cilic's serve if he has to get a positive outcome. Cilic 6 Nishikori 3

Nishikori keeps his serve but it does not come easy as Cilic gives him a tough time grabbing two points. Cilic 5 Nishikori 3

Cilic unleashes some superb forehand winners as he holds serve. He is just one game away from the first set. Cilic 5 Nishikori 2

BREAK!
 Brilliant on-court show from Cilic as he races to a triple breakpoint. Nishikori serves well to save two before he blunders to handover the break. Cilic 4 Nishikori 2

Cilic's stunning serves continue as he earns four straight points to seal the game. Cilic 3 Nishikori 2

Not much of a hardwork there for Nishikori as he holds serve dropping just a point. Cilic 2 Nishikori 2

Another easy service game for Cilic. His powerful serves should be a concern for the Japanese lad. Cilic 2 Nishikori 1

Cilic looks for early domination as he leads 0-30 before Nishikori gets into the groove to lead 40-30 and then wrap the game immediately. Cilic 1 Nishikori 1

Cilic begins the proceedings as he begins serving well to reach 30-0 but three unforced errors takes Nishikori to a breakpoint. Cilic is quick to rectify it as he wins the next three points to keep serve. Cilic 1 Nishikori 0

PREVIEW

History, redemption and glory will be on the line when Japan's Kei Nishikori and Croatia's Marin Cilic battle for the US Open men's title on Monday.

It will be the first time since the Australian Open final in 2005 that a men's grand slam final will not feature at least one of tennis's top three - Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer.

Tenth seed Nishikori is the first Asian man to reach a Grand Slam singles final while Cilic is into his first final, less than 12 months after returning from a four-month suspension for what he said was inadvertently taking a banned supplement.

Before this year's US Open, Nishikori and Cilic boasted just one grand slam semi-final appearance between them, the Croat having made it to the last four at the Australian Open in 2010.

Nishikori leads their head-to-head meetings 5-2, including both their meetings this year, in Brisbane and Barcelona, while they split their two previous US Open clashes.

But having beaten Djokovic and Federer respectively to reach their first Grand Slam final, they will be desperate to take chances on Monday.

"I hope there will be a lot of people watching (in Japan)," said Nishikori, who also beat third seed Stan Wawrinka and fifth seed Milos Raonic.

"I am a little bit surprised to make the final but am very happy to make another (piece) of history, the first time an Asian man is in the final. I hope I can win and make (more) history."

Coached by former Grand Slam champion Michael Chang, Nishikori has added steel and physical strength to a game that always possessed flair but lacked endurance.

"He's been really helpful," Nishikori said. "He's been helping me a lot from the end of last year, (especially) mentally.

"I feel my tennis is changing (to be a) little more aggressive and playing with more confidence. He's tough, but I needed someone to push me."

Cilic, whose victory over Federer in the semi-finals was described by his coach, Goran Ivanisevic, as "perfection", is aiming for glory, 11 months after returning from a drugs ban that left him questioning his future.

Originally banned for nine months, Cilic's suspension was cut to four months on appeal and the 25-year-old always maintained that he had taken the banned substance without knowing, through a tainted supplement.

The road back to the top was hard but with the help of former Wimbledon champion Ivanisevic, he has emerged a more aggressive player, using his serve and groundstrokes to stunning effect.

"For the guys that are top, (reaching the final) feels normal," he said. "But for some guys that are making it for the first time it's the achievement of their career.

"When I'm playing now these bigger matches I feel like if I'm going to play well I have a good chance.

"That's a different mind-set than I used to have because before I felt that I should (try to do) more than I'm able to and then your game breaks."

Cilic said he was looking forward to one more great battle with Nishikori.

"It's going to be a special day for both of us, an opportunity for both of us to win a Grand Slam, to be a part of history," he said.

"There are going to be definitely huge emotions on the court. We have different game styles. I think it's going to be a good tactical match-up."