Croatia’s Marin Cilic completed his comeback from a 2013 doping ban, winning the men’s singles title at the US Open with a straight sets win over Japan’s Kei Nishikori.
Cilic was too strong for his opponent and dominated play to win 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 in one hour 54 minutes at Flushing Meadows on Tuesday morning.
Cilic, who used his huge wingspan to reach out and bash forehands across court and a booming serve to score easy points, eased through the first set in 32 minutes.
He was up two breaks and serving for the second set at 5-2 when 10th seed Nishikori mustered a fightback to score his first service break of the match and close to 5-3.
But Cilic, the 14th seed, ended Nishikori’s hopes of reversing the momentum by breaking right back, ending the set with a forehand winner.
The turn of events allowed Cilic to serve first in the third set, one set away from claiming the season’s last grand slam title.
“This is the result of a lot of hard work over the past few years especially this past year,” Cilic said after the match.
“My team has worked hard for me especially Goran (coach Goran Ivanisevic) who has taught me the most important thing is to enjoy my tennis.
“I have been doing that and have been able to come here and play the best tennis of my life.”
The win follows Serena Williams’ win on Monday to claim the women’s Grand Slam title.
It was a record-equalling sixth US Open title and an 18th major championship after beating Caroline Wozniacki in the women’s singles final.
Williams won 6-3, 6-3 in an hour and 15 minutes to go fourth on the all-time grand slam singles titles list for women, level with Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova on 18 majors.
Source: Reuters, ABC