By Chris Oddo | Saturday October 24, 2015

 

Marin Cilic eased into the Kremlin Cup final for the second consecutive win on Saturday in Moscow.

Photo Source: Kremlin Cup

Marin Cilic’s bid to defend his Kremlin Cup title is going swimmingly. The Croatian routed Russia’s last man in contention, Evgeny Donskoy, 6-3, 6-1, to reach the final where he’ll face Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut.

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Cilic improved his 2015 record to 31-17 for 2015 and reached his 23rd ATP final.

Donskoy, competing in his first ATP semifinal, held close at the start. But the 25-year-old Russian was broken after saving three break points in the eighth game to fall behind 5-3 in set one.

Cilic would promptly serve out the set as he begun a run of seven of eight games that took him to victory. The Croatian saved the only break point he faced and rained down ten aces.

Bautista Agut reached his first final of the year after falling in his five previous semifinals with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Philipp Kohlschreiber.

The Spaniard, like Cilic, has not participated in an ATP final since meeting the Croat in last year’s Kremlin Cup final. That was won by Cilic, 6-4, 6-4, in the pair’s only previous meeting to date.

Bautista Agut saved all three break points he faced in defeating Kohlschreiber for the second time in three career meetings.

The Spaniard will bid for his third career title on Sunday; Cilic is hunting for career title No. 14.