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 A day after ousting third seed Stan Wawrinka, Goffin battled
through to his first Masters 1000 semi-final where he will meet
Canadian Milos Raonic, a 7-5 6-3 victor over Frenchman Gael Monfils.
Goffin saved 11 of 12 break points against tall Croatian Cilic
before sealing the win in just over an hour-and-a-half and declared
himself ready to take on another big server."It's good that in
tennis you can find some solution against big players like Marin or
Milos or (John) Isner," the 25-year-old told reporters.
"Maybe I'm quicker. I think I can take the ball earlier. I have
other weapons. That's why tennis is a nice sport.
"I'm really happy with the way I managed the important points ... it
was the key of the match, to win the first set, and to be more
relaxed in the second."
 After being forced to fighting off four set points in the opening
stanza, Goffin broke 10th seed Cilic's serve twice in the second
set.
"I was on my baseline and I was making him run a lot," said the
Belgian, who has won two ATP titles.
"When I had the opportunity on his second serve, I was really
aggressive, so that's why it was a better second set."
Raonic pounded out 10 aces to reach the semi-finals at Indian Wells
for the second straight year.
"I did things well. I created opportunities for myself," the 12th
seed told reporters.
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"I served well and when I did get myself in trouble, I felt like it
was me forcing the game. Those kind of things are positive and I
stuck to it and it came together."
Raonic relinquished an early break to Monfils in the first set but
broke back in the 12th game to go 1-0 up and carried the momentum
into the second stanza before serving out for the victory after 90
minutes.
The Canadian was sidelined in February because of a groin injury
that helped end his run in semi-finals of the Australian Open but is
fully fit now and ready to take on Goffin.
"He's playing well," said Raonic. "If I do the right things I can
give myself a chance. I think I have shown that this year, and I
hope I can keep showing that."
(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes and Jahmal Corner; Editing by Nick
Mulvenney)
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