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The powerful Croatian won 6-1 7-6(5) to claim a 16th ATP Tour
title and consolidate ninth place in the Race standings.
Rafael Nadal's decision to end his season early means Cilic is
actually holding the last berth for the eight-man showdown at
London's O2 Arena.
Cilic is now 210 points above Czech Tomas Berdych with Belgium's
David Goffin a further 190 points adrift.
He needed only 25 minutes to take the opening set as he
overpowered world number five Nishikori who is already assured
of a third consecutive appearance at the season-ender.
Nishikori offered more resistance in the second set and had
three set points at 5-4 but Cilic held firm and claimed the
title by winning the tiebreak on a Nishikori double-fault.
Former U.S. Open champion Cilic dropped only one of his 54
service games on the way to the title, his second of the year
after also winning in Cincinnati.
Cilic will also lead Croatia in the Davis Cup final against
Argentina next month.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Toby Davis)
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