NEW YORK — Marin Cilic played the U.S. Open final like he had an important dinner reservation in midtown.
Utilizing a massive serve and flat, powerful groundstrokes that he stroked to every corner of the court, the 6-foot-6 Croatian destroyed Japanese sensation Kei Nishikori, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3, in just 1 hour, 54 minutes to capture his first Grand Slam title.
Cilic, 25, became the first Croatian to win a major title since his coach, Goran Ivanisevic, won Wimbledon in 2001.
Cilic double-faulted on the first of three match points, but then smacked a backhand winner into the open court on the second before falling down on his back in celebration. He then made his way into his players’ box where he hugged his entourage, including Ivanisevic.
“Everything I was working for and dreaming came [true] today and I feel for all the other players that are working, I think this is a big sign and big hope that if you’re working hard, things are going to pay off,” said Cilic, who had lost five of his seven previous encounters with Nishikori.
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