|
 The big-serving Croatian overwhelmed a weary Nishikori in one
hour, 54 minutes to clinch a ruthless victory and deny his
10th-seeded opponent's bid to become the first Asian man to win a
grand slam.
With the win, 14th seed Cilic becomes the first Croatian to win one
of the sport's four grand slam championships since his coach Goran
Ivanisevic celebrated a Wimbledon victory in 2001.
"This is all hard work in these last several years and especially
this last year," said Cilic. "My team has brought something special
to me, especially Goran, we were working really hard but the most
important thing he brought to me was enjoying tennis and always
having fun."
"I enjoyed my best tennis over here and played the best ever in my
life."
The final marked the first time since the 2005 Australian Open that
at least one of tennis's big three of Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal and
Roger Federer was not playing for the title.
The two players walked onto the Arthur Ashe Stadium court under
overcast skies and much more forgiving conditions than the
sweltering heat they faced through much of the fortnight.
While both men were playing in their first grand slam final it was
Nishikori who displayed more jitters as Cilic quickly found his
range and unloaded on his helpless opponent by blasting 17 aces to
Nishikori's two.
Nishikori had his opportunities with nine break chances but could
convert just one while Cilic was five of 11 and enjoyed a 38-19 edge
in winners.
"It's a really tough loss but I’m really happy coming to my first
final," said Nishikori, who appeared to run out of gas after beating
three consecutive top-10 opponents and having to endure a pair of
five-setters. "Sorry I couldn’t get a trophy today but for sure next
time.
"It was a really fun two weeks here. I hope I can be coming back
next year."
'PRETTY NERVOUS'
Cilic had Nishikori on the back foot from start to finish, speeding
through the opening set in 33 minutes.
The 14th seed, using his huge wingspan to reach out and bash
forehands across court and a booming serve to score easy points,
again had an early break in the second and added another to go
up 5-2.
[to top of second column] |
Nishikori mustered a fightback to score his only break of the match and
close to 5-3 but the relentless Cilic broke right back for a 2-0 lead
killing any momentum his reeling opponent was building.
With a maiden grand slam within sight, Cilic kept his foot on the gas
and grabbed an early break in the third.
The only nerves Cilic would show came when he double faulted on his
first match point.
But it was only a momentary lapse as he buckled down and finished off a
reeling Nishikori with a backhard winner before letting out a mighty
scream as he fell onto his back and raised his arms in celebration.
"You never know when the nerves are going to kick in," said Cilic, who
returned to competition last October after a four-month ban for what he
always maintained was the result of ingesting a banned substance through
a tainted supplement.
"I think both of us were pretty nervous in the first set especially.
"Everything I was working for and dreaming came today and I feel for all
the other players that are working hard, I think this is a big sign, a
big hope that if you are working hard things are going to pay off."
(Editing by Frank Pingue)
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
