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By Erik Gudris | Friday, August 7, 2015

 
Marin Cilic Forehand Citi Open

Marin Cilic and Kei Nishikori will reprise last year's US Open final after advancing at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C

Photo Credit: Getty Images


In a rematch of last year's US Open final, Kei Nishikori and Marin Cilic will meet in the semifinals of the Citi Open in Washington D.C.

Both men reached that stage by each advancing in their respective quarterfinals at the ATP 500 level event that is a tune-up before the final major in New York.

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No. 2 seed Nishikori faced off first against big serving Australian Sam Groth. While Groth is best known for huge serves, it was Nishikori's return prowess that proved too much for the Aussie.

Nishikori earned a break of serve in each set while fighting off all four break points against him in the nearly 90 minute encounter. From there, Nishikori secured the 6-4, 6-4 win giving him his best ever result so far in D.C.

The US Open finalist later talked about trying to read Groth's huge serve and his upcoming reunion with Cilic.


The 2014 US Open champion Cilic found himself in an intriguing first-time meeting against rising young German talent Alexander Zverev. The 18-year-old German, with his tall, lanky frame and arms, resembled Cilic in some ways at leasy physically. Yet it was Cilic's experience that ultimately saw him through.

Zverev hung tough with Cliic in the opening set until the German served while down 5-6 to force a tiebreak. A pair of errors from Zverev allowed Cilic to break and take the set 7-5.

Perhaps feeling dejected about his lost chances, Zverev played an error-filled game to hand Cilic an early break in the second set for 2-0. From there, Cilic moved ahead to 5-3 and looked almost certain to serve it out.

That he did not, however, as Cilic became tentative in his own shots and would net several backhands. Those errors from the Croatian allowed Zverev to first break back and then even the set at 5-all. With the local crowd urging him on, Zverev improved his play enough to force a tiebreak after getting out of four deuce game with Cilic only a point away from possibly winning the match.

Cilic earned a mini-break right away with a forehand winner. From there, the more experienced Cilic did not let Zverev back into the match. Another potent forehand followed up with an ace soon gave Cilic two match points. Zverev netted a final shot to give Cilic the 7-5, 7-6(3) win.

"In the second set I wasn't making too many first serves and then Zverev starting playing very solid from the back," Cilic said about letting his second set lead slip. "The rallies started getting longer than I prefer to play. Lucky I was consistent at the end of the match and in the tiebreak played pretty solid so for me that's important."

Cilic is excited that he gets a rematch again Nishikori at the start of this year's summer hard court swing. On how he is playing now compared to when he ran all the way to his major title in New York, Cilic was candid in his assessment.

"I wouldn't say that I'm in the same form. I'm feeling I'm improving as a player, but I am not at the same level I was at the US Open. So that's something I work on still and build up to in the next weeks. For sure to play Kei, it's a great matchup for me win or lose because it will give me a lot of feedback after that match."


 

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