Cilic Wins 20th Title, Foils Fritz In St. Petersburg
Marin Cilic joined the 20-title club Sunday with a tough 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-4 victory over Taylor Fritz in the final of the St. Petersburg Open in Russia.
“During the whole week I think my level was really good. I felt that I can still get my game to a better level, and it was a little bit similar today,” Cilic said. “I was playing great on some occasions, missing some opportunities, serving for the first set, not making that first set more comfortably. As things went on, obviously Taylor started to play better. But in the end, a great mental battle from my side.”
The 33-year-old Cilic missed No. 20 last week in Moscow falling just short to Aslan Karatsev, but today the Croatian wouldn’t be denied a second title in St. Petersburg after 2011.
“Coming 10 years after winning in 2011 and also winning now, it’s so, so special for me, especially this part of my career,” Cilic said during the trophy ceremony. “Having now a family, two sons, I want to absolutely dedicate this trophy to my newborn son.”
Cilic becomes just the sixth active player with 20 or more titles:
Roger Federer 103
Rafael Nadal 88
Novak Djokovic 85
Andy Murray 46
Juan Martin del Potro 22
Marin Cilic 20
Fritz, who falls to 1-5 in ATP Finals, led with a break 3-1 in the third set then had another chance for a break after Cilic had leveled. A double fault cost Fritz at 4-all and Cilic was able to serve it out.
Cilic didn’t make a final in 2019 or 2020 but has three since the start of the grass season with two titles.
“My plans are to keep pushing myself, to keep training hard to give myself an opportunity to again win great tournaments and to play amazing tennis, to be winning against guys who are at the top,” Cilic said. “That’s obviously my goal. Who knows where it will take me, but for me, it’s a great start, these two tournaments in Russia. It obviously helps so much for my confidence end of the season playing this well.”
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