The world’s tennis scribes have been focusing so much on big names at Australian Open 2010 that they overlooked Croatian beanpole Marin Cilic until he toppled US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina in the fourth round.
Today, Cilic faces Andy Murray in a semi-final, and reporters can’t find out enough about him.
“Why are you playing such good tennis?” he was asked at a crowded press conference.
“Because I’m a good player,” Cilic replied, smiling.
“Why are you a good player?”
“I know how to learn. I mean …what can I say?”
The quiet young man from Medjugorje has so far eliminated French veteran Fabrice Santoro, Australian teenager Bernard Tomic, Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland, del Potro, and American Andy Roddick. Three of those players took him to five sets.
Croatia has been investing its hopes in the spindly but wiry Cilic ever since the retirement of Goran Ivanisevic, the 2001 Wimbledon champion and a national hero.
As a boy, Cilic idolized Ivanisevic. The charismatic left-hander befriended him and did all that he could to help him improve.
Cilic was blooded in Davis Cup play when he was about Tomic’s present age. Though he lost a few Cup matches, the experience apparently toughened him.
More recently, he has been coached by Melbourne-born Bob Brett at Brett’s academy in San Remo, near the French-Italian border. Bret was a protégé of the legendary Harry Hopman, a world leader in teaching tennis players how to peak.
In 2009, Cilic prepared for Melbourne by playing in a tournament at hot, steamy Chennai, in India.
He won that tournament and, in the process, made himself considerably fitter and more acclimatised to heat. He subsequently reached the fourth round at Melbourne Park.
This year, he chose to defend the Chennai title and was successful again. The city, once known as Madras, is establishing an interesting link with Australian tennis. Back in 2003, the then little-known German player Rainer Schuettler also played at Chennai en route to the Australian Open – and finished runner-up to Andre Agassi.
Trengove’s Fearless Forecasts
Murray (5) v Cilic (14)
Murray hasn’t dropped a set in five matches, whereas Cilic’s workload has included three five-setters, which don’t seem to have tired him. Their head-to-head record shows Murray leading by three matches to one. The one loss was at the 2009 US Open, when the Croat scored a decisive 7-5 6-2 6-2 victory over the Scot. Both players are in good shape, physically and mentally, but at this stage of their development, Murray’s versatility and court sense give him an edge. Murray in five.
S.Williams (1) v Li Na (16)
Li Na has an outside chance of becoming the first Chinese player to win a Grand Slam singles crown. Serena meanwhile seeks her fifth Australian Open title and revenge for Li Na’s defeat of Venus yesterday. Little separates them in courage and shot-making. However, Serena’s greater experience and her coolness in a crisis made all the difference in her match with Victoria Azarenka – as it will against Li Na. Serena in three.
Henin v. Zheng
Few could have imagined that Henin would play China’s Zheng Jie for a place in the final. In her own astonishing comeback, the Belgian has now come close to emulating the achievement of compatriot Kim Clijsters, who celebrated her 2009 return with a triumph at the US Open. Zheng has some of Henin’s feisty character and determination, as well as some of her foot-speed. But she cannot yet match the former champ’s array of weapons. Henin in straight.
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