"It comes from being me" claims Cilic after reaching first semifinal in Paris

Thursday, 02 June 2022 at 05:00

Updated at Tuesday, 03 December 2024 at 18:34

Cilic Marin MadridOpen2022 FlorinBaltatoiu2

bySam Frape

Marin Cilic saw off Andrey Rublev in the quarter-finals of Roland Garros to set up a first final-four appearance at the Parisian Grand Slam.

It has been a long time coming for the Croat, who has recently found himself in a purple patch of form of recent results that have propelled him into his first Grand Slam semi-final in more than four years.

Having arrived in Paris in formidable form, the tall Croat deserves his spot in the last four. He has shown the rest of the crowd that experience should not be discounted when it comes to Grand Slams, and it is a mentality that will see him go up against a spritely Casper Ruud in the semi-final.

Speaking after the match, the Croatian player praised the level of competition that was on display in the game, saying that both players had a great game.

"(The fight) comes from being me. I played that kind of tennis the whole match, especially the fifth set was an incredible battle. Andrey played incredibly well and it was an incredible performance on the court – a lot of heart. One had to go down. Today it was my day."

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He continued, explaining the toll a match like that has on a player, not necessarily physically but mentally.

"(I’m) more emotionally (tired than physically) because Andrey plays a difficult game. He serves big, hits big and you don't have many chances You've got to really keep up your level. I did that. Unfortunately I lost that fourth set."

"I thought I was close to maybe get that break, but Andrey played really well some games and when you play this long it's always going to be a little bit ups and downs during the match. I kept my focus in that game - I don't know 4-all or something - in the fifth and it was the winning game."