Marin Cilic, Kohlschreiber To Face Off For Munich Title

Written by: on 5th May 2012
Tennis ATP tournament in Munich
Marin Cilic, Kohlschreiber To Face Off For Munich Title

epa03205786 Croatia's Marin Cilic returns the ball to Russia's Mikhail Youzhny during their quarter final match of the ATP tennis tournament in Munich,?Germany, 04 May 2012. Cilic won 6-3, 6-7(6) and 6-3. EPA/MARC MUELLER  |

(Original Story: http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2012/05/18/Munich-Saturday-Cilic-Defeats-Haas-Lopez-Plays-Kohlschreiber.aspx)

Third seed Marin Cilic reached his first final of the season Saturday at the BMW Open, defeating wild card Tommy Haas 6-3, 6-4 in Munich.

Cilic won 89 per cent of his service points and broke the German once in each set to take their semi-final clash in 75 minutes, evening their FedEx ATP Head 2 Head record to 1-1.

“It was my best match of the week,” Cilic declared to ATPWorldTour.com. “I played and served extremely well. I believe he didn’t reach deuce on my serve. I waited for my chances on return. Tommy played really well this week and I went into the match with thoughts of that. It made good preparation for everything.”

The 23-year-old Croat is through to his second final at the ATP World Tour 250 clay-court event, after a runner-up finish to Mikhail Youzhny in 2010. Cilic is aiming to lift his first clay-court trophy in three attempts and holds a 6-6 final record overall. His last triumph came at the St. Petersburg Open in October last year (d. Tipsarevic).

“I’ve always played well here and have enjoyed the atmosphere,” said Cilic. “This week, there have been some really warm days, which has suited my game. I’m playing well and feeling good, so hopefully I’m going to continue to play like this.”

In the final, Cilic will square off against 2007 titlist Philipp Kohlschreiber. The third seed topped No. 2 seed Feliciano Lopez 6-2, 6-7(4), 6-4 in two hours and 19 minutes.

The German saved all five break points he faced and converted three of his 13 break point opportunities to defeat Lopez for the second time in five meetings.

“Over the whole week, I’ve played great tennis,” said Kohlschreiber. “Today, everything was at the top. Mentally, after a tough second set, where I had some chances, I’m happy to be in the final.”

Kohlschreiber will contest his sixth final (3-2 record) and is aiming to lift his first trophy since triumphing on home soil last June at the Gerry Weber Open in Halle (d. Petzschner). He holds a 4-3 record against Cilic, with the Croat taking their most recent encounter in a Davis Cup World Group first-round tie last year.

“It will be very tough,” Kohlschreiber said. “We practised at the beginning of the week, and both felt we had a high quality practise. He’s maybe a little bit of the favourite. He has a lot of confidence and played a great match against Tommy. I want to raise my level and win the title here.”

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