Marin Čilić has advanced to the quarterfinals of the US Open, where he awaits Kei Nishikori.
Croatia’s best tennis player Marin Čilić will play in the quarter-final of the US Open for the fifth time in his career, after he defeated Belgian tennis player David Goffin 7-6 (6), 6-2, 6-4. Čilić and Kei Nishikori will thus fight for a place in the semis, reports Gol.hr on September 4, 2018.
Čilić overcame Goffin in two hours and 24 minutes and achieved a massive turnaround in the first set, where Goffin immediately came to a break in the first game, held the advantage until the tenth game, and served for the set. However, the match point never came.
In the tie-break of the first set, Čilić led 5-2 but allowed Goffin to reach 5-5. Marin won the first set after a 54-minute fight.
Despite his poor first service in the game, and especially in the second set (37%), Čilić still shined in the crucial moments. The second set saw three consecutive breaks. Goffin had the opportunity to equalize in the sixth game, but missed two break points and lost the serve again. At 5-2, Čilić was again faced with two break points and saved them with two aces. With two more points, he gained the two-set advantage.
In the third set, Čilic first came the break at 3-2. Goffin threatened Čilić and reached 0-30, though Čilić was the one to come to the match point.
Goffin managed to defend Marin's blows and waited for him to make a mistake. Luckily, two of Goffin’s returns failed to finish over the net, bringing Čilić to the third match point. With a brilliant counterattack and a diagonal forehand, Čilić claimed victory over Goffin and advanced to the quarter-finals of the US Open for the fifth time.
This was Čilić’s third consecutive victory over Goffin, bringing their duels to 3-3. Čilić made 48 unforced errors which he compensated with 42 straight points.
On Tuesday, Čilić will fight for his third semifinal of the US Open against Japan's Kei Nishikori, who defeated Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-2, 7-5. This will be the 15th match between Čilić and Nishikori, and a rematch of the 2014 US Open final where Čilić celebrated in three convincing sets.
