When nobody gave Marin Cilic a chance, he made an astonishing comeback, winning the match against a strong contender. Marin Cilic’s first win of the title was also the first case when the lowest-ranked player went on to win the ATP.
A Hollywood-level story and direction was performed by Marin Cilic when he beat the likes of Alex De Minaur quite easily. Marin is ranked former world number 3 and went on to win the title easily against the contender.
How Did Marin Cilic Beat Alex De Minaur?
The former world no. 3 ranking player defeated the 2nd-ranked player at the Dubai Duty-Free Tennis Championships.
The game did go fair and square for three rounds. The scorecard by the end of the game was 6-2, 3-6 and 6-3. Everyone thought it would have been the opposite, but not to be. This was the first win for Cilic after beating Roland Garros in 2022.
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Marin Cilic Views After The Win
According to the media interview provided to ATPtour, Marin Cilic looked absolutely happy with the win. He stated it was a great start for me. Alex is a dangerous player, and winning against him is a major achievement.
Their speed and accuracy in reaching every ball impressed Marin quite a lot. The 26-year-old also made it clear that he had to remain patient but aggressive to have any chance of winning.
The Greatness of Marin Cilic
A great player is known for his ability to come back after defeats. Although Cilic did lose in Doha last week to Carlos Alcaraz, he didn’t let that loss hamper his game.
The two break points that he faced against Minaur were well-collected, which helped him to take the lead. The total game between De Minaur and Marin Cilic ran for 2 hours and 17 minutes.
This win for Marin means that it is the first win in Dubai for the star tennis player after back-to-back play in the 2009-2010 quarterfinals.
What Next For Marin Cilic?
Although Cilic won his first tour game against De Minaur, he is well aware that he needs to work harder for the next round.
“Last week I played Carlos in Doha, Alex here. They’re both Top 10 guys playing extremely well. It’s a great effort from me, a great sign that I’m playing really well. It’s a matter of matches for me that I can get in the match form. Hopefully I can keep the form going,” said Cilic.
His next big competition will be Alexei Popyrin, who recently beat Hady Habib on Monday.
Even though Alexei Popyrin is ranked 27 currently, every tennis fan would know that ranking alone doesn’t mean a lot now.
Alexei Popyrin won his game in two straight sets. The scoreline read 6-2 and 6-4, suggesting that Habib hardly had the chance. The overall competition between Popyrin and Habib lasted for 1 hour and 5 minutes.
