Marin Cilic has summoned up memories of fellow Croat Goran Ivanisevic in his four-set defeat of British No. 1 Jack Draper Wednesday at Wimbledon.
After knee surgeries that caused him to miss the previous three editions of the grass-court Slam, the 2017 finalist conjured up that languid form of old, as his heavy serving and pinpoint returns deep to the baseline frustrated Draper and kept him on the path to emulate his hero and former coach, Ivanisevic, the last and only player to win Wimbledon as a wild card.
Cilic Created Magic Through Simplicity
Jack Draper came into this match as the favorite, and there were not many arguments to the contrary, given both his form and the fact that he was playing a 36-year-old whom many casual fans might have thought had already retired from the sport.
But as Cilic 2.0 started raining down serves with mechanical efficiency, coupled with backhands that grazed the baseline with such a ridiculous frequency that an emergency repaint may be ordered, the tables were turned. All of a sudden it was Draper who looked like the creaking veteran, stunned as he watched Cilic roll back the years.
The third set offered Draper some hope, as the Cilic machine lowered in intensity levels. The home favorite took the set 6-1, surely thinking he could persevere through stamina alone. But Cilic had other ideas; he hit reset for the fourth set and his game was back, serving ferociously and dragging Draper around the court like a ragdoll.
After a series of epic, rally-enriched games, Cilic led 5–4, and Draper had to serve to stay in the match. When Draper netted to hand Cilic a match point, the Croat just stared at his team, his eyes somehow both focused and frenzied. As the point began, Cilic took control, dragging Draper out of position, and with a final swing of that beautiful two-handed backhand, he forced the error that sealed the match.
From Forgotten Man To Man Of The Hour
Once the initial shock of losing a homegrown hero from the draw had faded, the crowd stood to give kudos to Cilic. Even if he goes no further than the third round, he has firmly put his name back into the hearts and minds of the tennis world.
It may be unlikely that the wild card will replicate his compatriot Ivanisevic by winning the tournament, but for now, he can prepare for the next round knowing that–even after four years away from Wimbledon–he can still pull a few grass rabbits out of the hat.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images
