I Think that I could Go a Little Bit Further: Cilic

DUBAI — He may lack the elegance and fluidity of Roger Federer, but Marin Cilic is one of those rare players who can win your heart even after suffering a painful defeat.

By Rituraj Borkakoty

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Published: Fri 26 Feb 2010, 12:10 AM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 8:55 AM

The world number 9 from Croatia admitted that he was outplayed by his opponent in the first quarter-final of the Dubai Tennis Championships on Thursday.

“Overall I think he (Jurgen Melzer) played a solid game. Well, I did have my chances which I didn’t convert,” Cilic said after his 7-6 7-5 defeat in the quarter-final at the Dubai Tennis Stadium.

Cilic, who won his previous matches with ease, got off to a flying start on Thursday as well.

“Yeah, I mean, I started well and felt good even though it was a little bit windy. I mean, I was hitting the ball well and serving good.

“Then I had that little bit of rushed game on my serve, and I lost like three, four points in a row. From there he started to play better, and he was putting more pressure on me and then he also did well while serving for thefirst set.

“Then I came back in the tiebreak. That, I think, was crucial from a psychological point of view. Then I had a few chances there, I lost. I missed a few easy balls at 8-all, when I missed one forehand after my serve. That was, I think, little bit the breakthrough for him in the match.

“Second set was sort of a battle coming and staying in there. Trying to get my chances, I had a few of them. Also towards the end of the second set, I had a sort of an easy ball, but I couldn’t take the chance. So that was a little bit disappointing.”

Cilic said he did feel he could have gone all the way here in Dubai after the fall of other top players.

“Yeah, little bit. But then I mean the other guys also played well. Melzer deserved it today, you know. He went through his draw pretty comfortably and came to the quarters.

“Of course, it’s a little bit disappointing. I think that I could go a little bit further. I had my chance to make something and to win a few more matches. It’s obviously not easy to understand, but it’s all right.

“I had a good start to the year. I played a lot of matches. It’s not easy to always push yourself more and more,” said Cilic who has a 17-2 win-loss record in 2010.

The conditions, according to Cilic, were not that easy. “Yeah, it was not easy. It was quite hot today, and from one side the sun was coming into my eyes when I served in the first set, and I lost my little bit of balance there.

“So it wasn’t easy. But otherwise I played my first two matches also in similar conditions, so it was okay.”

Despite the shock defeat, Cilic says he is now confident of success in the coming tournaments. “Davis Cup is coming. And then Indian Wells, Miami, which are two big tournaments. I will try to do better than last year. I didn’t do too well there last year.”


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