In the first match at the Belgrade Open, Marin Čilić won against Aleksandar Mueller 7:6(2), 6:3.
The Frenchman had a break advantage at the start of the first set, but the experienced player from Croatia reversed the dynamic with great play and ultimately grabbed the win.
The Belgrade audience rewarded Cilic after the end of the match with applause, and they will watch him again in a duel with the Czech Republic’s Leheck.
“The hardest thing is when you’re a little bit out of pace and you’re rusty from not playing matches, and you have to find the right balance. Last week in Paris I went into the match too fast and aggressively, then I lost rhythm. The conditions here are a little different, slower, the ball rebounds lower. It took me about half an hour to get used to everything. When I found the right rhythm and balance, I played fantastically. I’m satisfied,” said Martin Cilic, after the end of the match against the Frenchman.
You’ve played many tournaments during your career, how do you feel about the organization of this one in general and do you think the Balkans have room for a tournament of the 500 series?
“We all love sports, football, basketball or tennis. These are great top sports and people love them. This is especially true of tennis. Novak has made incredible strides in the last 20 years, and many of the rest of us have maintained that high level. In general, when people come to tournaments and watch tennis live, only then do they see its high level and how different everything is than on TV. At least I’m getting that kind of feedback. In general, we have tournaments at a high level when it comes to organization. The arenas in Zagreb, Umag, and Belgrade are fantastic. I’m expecting a very pleasant week.”
You have become the lowest-ranked player in ATP history to win a title. That was in Hangzhou. How do you feel after that and does it motivate you?
“There is motivation, 2022 was a very good year for me. “I was close to the final of Roland Garros and then I got injured. I was sorry to stop playing at that moment, because I felt great. It was that feeling that pushed me further. Honestly, even now I have a good feeling through my body, good vigor, I’m motivated in workouts. “I’m happy to play, I hope it will last a few more seasons and that the body will endure. My family is here, they are a great support to me. I’d like to have fantastic successes like Novak in my later years,” concluded Marin Cilic.
Do you still believe that you can win a Grand Slam?
“That goal is definitively still there. “I feel like I can still play at that level. I had a good feeling through those first six months. I don’t know if it’s going to happen at a Grand Slam, but we’ll see if I remain healthy. I’m going day by day, week by week. I want to move forward. I’ve got a good level of play and I can still go up a level or two. I am aware that everything has some order, I do not want to sound as if I am announcing winning title from the 200th position, I want to go step by step”, concluded Cilic.
