Former Wimbledon finalist Marin Cilic has regrettably pulled out from the 2023 Championships, citing ongoing recovery from a knee injury.
The grass-court season is a highlight for every tennis fan, and more so for the players themselves. Marin Cilic, a former finalist at the Wimbledon, knows the allure of this season all too well. The Croatian, who charmed us all with his remarkable play in 2017, announced on Wednesday his unfortunate withdrawal from the 2023 Championships.
Cilic, who owns an impressive 31-13 record on the grass courts, has been battling with a right knee injury that has kept him on the sidelines since the start of this year's season. Having clinched his opening match against Roberto Carballes Baena in Pune, Cilic felt a worrying pain in his right knee during the warm-up for his subsequent match, which forced him to withdraw.
Since then, he hasn't played a competitive match, undergoing knee surgery to solve the problem, leaving him languishing at No. 100 in the ATP Rankings. Recently, Cilic was set to make a comeback in 's-Hertogenboch, but he withdrew from that event, and now he announced his withdrawal from the 2023 Wimbledon.
"I'm sad to be missing the grass season and especially Wimbledon; this is a highlight of the season for every tennis player, but I know how important it is not to rush the recovery process. Things have generally been going well the last few weeks with my post-surgery training so I'm staying positive and focused on my long-term recovery."
Cilic's words, however, were tinged with optimism for the future, providing solace for his fans. His focus on long-term recovery, instead of a rushed comeback, speaks volumes about his character. He stressed his intent to return stronger and more competitive than before.
"I hope that I'll be competing very soon. I miss being on Tour, the tournaments and the fans, and I can’t wait to get back to all of that, to feel the thrill of stepping on court & competing. Until then, I’ll keep training and sharpening my motivation. Thanks for your continued support as always!"
0 Comments